Factores de riesgo en jóvenes conductores de automóviles en el área metropolitana de Guadalajara, México

In the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA), Mexico, the main cause ofpremature death in young adults is injuries caused by traffic accidents (TA).Exposure and vulnerability factors to traffic accidents in young drivers wereanalyzed for this area. To do so, a mixed research was conducted, based on aninterpretive paradigm. To determine the exposure and vulnerability of youngpeople to TA, secondary data sources and interviews with young people aged 16to 24 years, with a history of TA as a driver, were used. Recommendations foraction are proposed. As a result, driver behaviors (73%) stood out as anexposure factor to TA and emotional disturbance (84%) as a vulnerability factor.The GMA is characterized by a high number of vehicles per capita, mobilitymainly by private cars, poor road culture, dispersed urban growth withoutplanning, and a favorable context for TA. Reducing AT in young people requiresreducing exposure: changing risk behaviors and driver attention, road education,regulatory monitoring, reducing the number of vehicles per capita, prioritizingnon-motorized mobility by improving public transportation and roadinfrastructure, creating safe environments, and evaluating the effectiveness ofimplemented measures.