IJCRR - 5(22), November, 2013
Pages: 78-81
Date of Publication: 04-Dec-2013
Print Article
Download XML Download PDF
ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TOWARDS ROAD SAFETY
Author: R. Soureche Venguidaragavane
Category: Healthcare
Abstract:Road safety is to be adopted and adored as mandatory life skill by each and every individual in order to adhere to social norms and to build a safe society. Aim: the aim of the study is to instill a positive attitude towards road safety among B. Ed students. Objective: The main objective of the study is to elicit the level of attitude of B. Ed students towards road safety and also to find out the significant difference in their attitude across different demographic variables. Research Methodology: Normative survey method was adopted for the present study. A four point attitude scale with 48 test items related to common traffic rules; signal and symbols was used as the tool for the study. The data were collected from 600 B. Ed students (includes both gender) of eight selected B. Ed colleges in Puducherry region selected using simple random sampling Result: The sample exhibits negative attitude towards road safety. The individual having own vehicles especially two wheeled and those of with urban nativity have high level of attitude than those who use hire- based travel and with rural nativity on road safety. Conclusion: Promotion of road safety awareness through co-curricular activities in teacher education should ensure to develop positive attitude towards road safety and to ensure risks free usage of roads.
Keywords: Attitude, Man-made disaster, road safety.
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION
Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) as one of the man-made disaster is mainly caused due to urbanization coupled with human negligence. Nowadays there is a drastic increase in RTA in terms of mortality and morbidity rate which is due to the expansion of road network and with high tech-motorization. Between 1970 and 2010, the frequency of this RTA increased by 4.4 times with 9.3 times increase in fatalities and 7.5 times increase in the number of persons injured, while there was an increase of 82 times in the number of registered motor vehicles and more than three times increase in the road network (Nantulya VM, Reich MR., 2002). Road accidents are common in India due to reckless driving by untrained drivers and poor maintenance of roads and vehicles. India accounts for 13-15% of road accident fatalities worldwide and tops in the number of people killed in road accidents.
World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that by 2020 the RTA will be the third highest threat to public health, outranking other serious killer health problems. In South Asia alone, road traffic fatalities are expected to increase to 330,000 in 2020. 85 percent of the world’s road deaths occur in developing countries - South Asia region has one fifth share in these fatalities. The fatalities of mankind and their chattels due to road accidents have emerged as a major public health issues like death, disabilities and hospitalizations, which in turn affect their family members and even the structure of the society in terms of political, social and economic sectors. The United Nations has rightly proclaimed 2011-2020 as the decade of action on road safety Peden M, et al (2004).
NEED FOR THE STUDY
India accounts for around 5 lakh road accidents in 2011 result in the deaths of 1,42,485 people and more than 5.5 lakh persons injured as 1 accident per minute, and 1 road accident death for every 3.7 minutes. The loss to the Indian economy due to fatalities and accident injuries was estimated at 3% of GDP. India stood 9th place in road accidents death in 2004 and likely to be in 5th place by 2030 (Shrinivas PLL 2004).
The mortality rate in road accidents in Pondicherry has slightly increased from 14 dead per 100 accidents in 2007 to 16 deaths in 2010. Around 53.1% of road accident victims were in the age group of 25 to 65 years in 2010. The reason for RTA in Pondicherry could be heterogenic nature of vehicle and human population; lack of proper traffic management systems and poor adherence / enforcement of road safety regulations apart from road network design. Although 4 Es (Education; Enforcement; Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and Emergency care) are used to mitigate road accidents, educating the public plays a prominent role in reducing the risk of heavy road accidents. Creating sound awareness about road safety among B. Ed students would go a long way in inculcating road safety education among school children at large. The coping trait against road accidents thereby spreads rapidly to all spheres of the society, which helps to develop the accident free zones. Hence as the need of the hour, the investigator chooses to study the attitude of B. Ed students towards road safety in Puducherry for his investigation.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To study the attitude of B. Ed students’ towards road safety.
- To study the significant difference in the attitude of B. Ed students towards road safety with respect to different demographic variables (gender, nativity, educational background, mode of transport to college and type of vehicle used).
HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
- The attitude of B. Ed students towards road safety is positive
- There is no significant difference in the attitude of B. Ed students towards road safety with respect to the following demographic variables
Gender (Male/Female)
Nativity (Urban/rural)
Educational background (Science/Arts)
Mode of transport to college (Own vehicle /hire)
Type of Motor vehicle used (two wheeler/four wheeler/ other types)
METHODOLOGY
TOOL USED
A four point attitude scale (2 positive and 2 negative points) consists of 48 items was used as the tool for the study. The test items elicit the attitude of the sample about the common traffic rules; signal and symbols related to road traffic safety; preparedness to mitigate the road accidents and situational decision during an accident. The reliability Co-efficient of the tool was computed as 0.87 by split-half method. The response to odd numbered items was scored as 3, 2, 1, 0 and the even numbered items as 0, 1, 2, 3 respectively. The grant score above 50% designated as positive attitude and below 50% represent negative attitude.
SAMPLE
A sample of 600 B. Ed students (includes both gender) from eight selected B. Ed colleges in Puducherry was selected using simple random sampling technique.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data collected from the sample were analyzed using ‘t’ test and presented in table 1 and 2.
Table – 1: The attitude level of B. Ed students on road safety
Groups
|
N
|
Mean
|
Standard deviation
|
Total
|
600
|
68. 15
|
40. 29
|
The mean value for the total Sample is 68. 15 and standard deviation 40.29, which indicates that the mean grant score falls below 50%. Hence it can be concluded that the sample B. Ed students have slightly negative attitude towards road safety. Therefore the stated Hypothesis is rejected.
The result of ‘t’ test reveal that there is a significant difference in the attitudes of B. Ed students on road safety with respect to their mode of transport; nativity and type of vehicle used. Further, it is found that there is no significant difference in the attitudes of B. Ed students of different gender group and different educational background at graduate level.
MAJOR FINDINGS
The overall attitude of the sample toward road safety is slightly negative.
The students having own vehicle have marginally higher level of positive attitude than that of those who use hire- based travel on road safety.
Urban students have high level of positive attitude than that of rural students in road safety
Two wheeler users have marginally higher level of attitude on road safety followed by those using four wheeler and other options like bicycle, auto etc
DISCUSSION
The findings of the study reveal that there is a need to improve the attitude of the students towards road safety. Students having own motor vehicle may give utmost priority to safeguarding their vehicles from any accident rather than learning the road safety skills. Urban students frequently familiarize themselves with different types of new motor vehicles with the help of media and other sources like internet and social network sites etc. Hence they seem to have more positive attitude towards road safety than the rural based students.
SUGGESTIONS
(1) Inculcate the importance of precautionary safety measures during travel; common road safety norms and rules in the core curriculum of teacher education. (2) Celebrate road safety week to emphasize the adverse effects of road traffic accidents through expert talks, film shows and conduct competitions like drama, speech, mime, drawing, painting and essay forms. (3) Impart training on wearing seat belt, helmet, how to handle and use the vehicle properly and efficiently, how to adopt road safety rules in real traffic situations, details about sign boards and symbols by trained officials in social camp activity and physical/health education. (4) Measures should be taken up to liaison with the traffic department to give quality and practical training on road safety.
CONCLUSION
Modernization in transport logistics is an indicator of materialistic development of mankind. Although comfortable travels in modern vehicles have several advantages like sophisticated and comfortable journey, reduced physical tiredness, cut short on travel time and quickened purpose of travel, the foremost need in the fast unavoidable travel is safety while travelling. Safe travel saves vital human lives. Instilling positive attitude regarding road safety helps to create informed and responsive citizenry which is vital for the progress of mankind.
References:
- Accidental deaths and suicides in India. National Crime Records Bureau. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2009
- Castelli DM, Hillman CH, Buck SM and Erwin HE. Physical fitness and academic achievement in third and fifth grade students. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2007,Vol. 29, pp 239-252.
- Dollman, J, Lewis, N . Active transport to school as part of a broader habit of walking and cycling among South Australian Youth. Pediatric Exercise Science,2007, 19(4): 436-43.
- IRTAD Database- Risk Indicators". OECD International Traffic Safety.Data and Analysis group (IRTAD), 2009
- Muir, C., Devlin, A., Oxley, A., Kopinathan, C., Charlton, J. and Koppel, S. Parents as Role Models in Road Safety, 2010.
- Nantulya VM, Reich MR. The neglected epidemic: road traffic injuries in developing countries. 2002, BMJ, 324: 1139-1141
- Peden M, Scurfield R, Sleet D, Mohan D, Hyder AA, Jarawan E (Eds.) World report on road traffic injury prevention. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2004
- Road accidents. Government of India Ministry of road transport and highways Transport research wing New Delhi, 2010
- Sirard JR, Riner WF, McIver KL and Pate RR. “Physical Activity and Active Commuting to Elementary School.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2005,37(12): 2062–2069,
- Shrinivas PLL. Studies undertaken to identify critical causes of accidents in the highways of Tamil Nadu. Indian Highways, 2004, 31: 11-22.
- Traffic Safety Education: Directions & Action Plan. Victoria http://www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au/files/pdf/trafficsafetyed_actionplan.pdf. Accessed March, 2008-2010, 14, 2012.
- Zubrick SR, Wood L, Villanueve K, Wood G, Giles-Corti B and Christian H. Nothing to fear but fear itself: parental fear as a determinant of child physical activity and independent mobility, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Melbourne, 2010.