BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the association between the incidence of road traffic accidents, psychological characteristics, and genotype in bus drivers in a Chinese population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bus drivers who had been involved in road traffic accidents (n=106) (the study group), and bus drivers with no history of road traffic accidents (n=106) (the control group) completed demographic questionnaires, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Type-A behavior pattern (TABP) evaluation. Serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (serotonin), and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescent detection (HPLC-FLD). Serotonin transporter promoter-linked polymorphism region (5-HTTLPR) and the 521 C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the regulatory region of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4-521 C/T) were measured using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS: After accounting for potential confounders, extroversion, psychopathy, neuroticism and time hurrying (impatience) were significant factors associated with road traffic accidents in bus drivers (adjusted OR: 1.268, 95% CI: 1.133–1.419; adjusted OR: 1.177, 95% CI: 1.028–1.347; adjusted OR: 1.092, 95% CI: 1.005–1.187; adjusted OR: 1.123, 95% CI: 1.025–1.230, respectively). Reduced serum levels of 5-HT and 5-HTP were significantly associated with the incidence of road traffic accidents (adjusted OR: 0.985, 95% CI: 0.973–0.997; adjusted OR: 0.982, 95% CI: 0.969–0.994, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological characteristics associated with the 5-HTTLPR and DRD4-521 C/T genotypes, including extroversion, psychopathy, neuroticism, and time hurrying (impatience), and low serum levels of 5-HT and 5-HTP in bus drivers were associated with an increased risk of road traffic accidents.

Keywords: Accidents, Traffic, Genetic Association Studies, Psychology