Road Safety Awareness and Practices Among School Children of Chandigarh

1. Indian Journal of Community Medicine Vol. 31, No. 3, July - September, 2006
Road Safety Awareness and Practices Among School Children of Chandigarh
H.M. Swami, S. Puri, V. Bhatia
Introduction 60) and those not having any vehicles (12.8%,125). Hence
It has been estimated that 1 million deaths & 15 million RSA the sample comprised of 787 students (479 males & 308
(Road Side Accidents) occur on roads worldwide every year. females) studying in these classes. Information regarding
Globally, RSA is 10th & in SEAR, 7th leading cause of death in knowledge about accidents, use of vehicles, traffic safety,
all age groups1. According to WHO estimates, RSA is the 9th various risk factors and their practices was recorded on
leading cause of death as per on the basis of DALY. However, predesigned format.
this is likely to reach at no. 3 by 20202. It was estimated that Information was collected by trained team of doctors & social
over 75% of RSA occur in the so called developing countries, workers in school premises after taking consent from the
even though these countries account for only 32% of total Principals and students.
motor vehicle fleet, which involves 65% of pedestrians and
Results and Discussion
35% of school children3. Child pedestrian injury, an important
cause of morbidity and mortality remains one of the leading Forty percent of students lacked correct knowledge of traffic
causes of death in developed and developing countries. Each safety rules. In particular, knowledge of correct speed limit
year in US approximately 850 children under the age of 15 was lacking in 67.3% of the respondents. Girls were more
years are killed & another 30,000 are injured in pedestrian aware of traffic rules to be followed at traffic lights (63%) and
collisions4. During last decades injuries due to RSA have while crossing zebra lines (41.2%), Whereas boys were more
risen by 300% in Asian and African countries in contrast to versed with rules for pedestrians (49.8%). Around 60% of
30-40% in developed countries. There is limited literature school children had correct knowledge of risk factors. The
available regarding accident related behaviour in developing awareness was almost same in both government & private
countries. The chances of RSA can be averted to a large ex- Schools as well as in males & female students. (Table-I)
tent, if school children who are going to be adults of tomorrow
Table I: Knowledge of School Children Regarding Traffic Safety
are made aware of road safety measures. Hence present
Male Female Total
study was focussed on school children to study knowledge Correct Knowledge of (n=479) (n=308) (n=787)
of various risk factors pertaining to road side accidents and Traffic Safety Rules No. % No. % No. %
their practices. Rule to be followed at 267 55.7 197 63.0 464 59.0
traffic lights
Material and Methods Crossing zebra lines 181 37.7 127 41.2 308 39.5
Rule for pedestrians 239 49.8 81 26.2 320 40.6
The Union Territory of Chandigarh is one of the modern cities
Legal age at driving:
in India with an area of 114 sq. Km with population of about 1 Without gears 259 54.0 144 46.7 403 51.2
million and a high literacy rate of 81.6%. City is well known for With gears 272 56.7 146 47.0 418 53.1
modern architecture, medical and educational infrastructure. Speed limits in city:
Main road 191 39.8 67 21.7 258 32.7
Large number of young people come to the city for pursuing
Is It a Risk:
education from neighboring and far states such as North Driving without Helmet 283 59.1 218 70.8 491 62.4
Eastern State. UT of Chandigarh has about 185 schools in Driving at night without 285 59.4 183 59.4 468 59.5
Govt. & Private sector. More than 100 schools are up to level headlight
Not wearing seatbelts in 284 59.3 181 58.8 465 59.1
of high and secondary level, having about 30000 children car
enrolled in classes between 9th –12th.
Table II - Traffic Rule Violations By School Children
In this study, 8 schools (4 Govt. & 4 Private) were chosen
randomly. Total number of students studying in these classes Caught for Male Female Total
Violating Traffic (n=479) (n=308) (n=787)
were approximately 5000. 4 classes from each school were Rules No. % No. % No. %
covered. Systemic random sampling method was used. Without Helmet 108 22.5 42 13.6 450 57.1
Every 2nd child was enrolled for the study. Hence on an Without valid 60 12.5 40 13.0 100 l2.7
average 90-100 students were taken from each school. The document
total number of students who were covered were 972. Of Without license 124 26.0 57 18.5 171 21.7
Using mobile 115 24.0 58 18.$ 173 22.0
the total students, those who were excluded from the study while driving
were those who didn’t give complete information (6.1%, Over Speeding 200 41.8 28 9.09 228 29.0
Crossing wrong 171 35.7 52 16.9 222 28.2
signal
Deptt. of Community Medicine, GMCH, Chandigarh Drunk with 65 13.5 - - 65 8.3
Received : 12.10.04 Alcohol
Road Safetiy Awareness and Practices Among Children
199

2. Indian Journal of Community Medicine Vol. 31, No. 3, July - September, 2006
Results of this study were similar to that done in other coun- of motorised and unmotorised vehicles, inadequate vehicle
tries. In a study done in Bangladesh5, 62% of road traffic safety standards, neglect of bicyclists safety, absence of
accidents were accounted by pedestrian casualties. 62% of safety measures like helmets, seat belts, the rage of drinking
students agreed that risk factors that expose one to accidents & driving, & least adherence to traffic rules. These reasons
are driving without helmet, driving at night without headlights were witnessed in our study also.
(59.5%) & not wearing seatbelts (59.1%).
Death of any school child in a road traffic accident while
Bicycle, motorcycle/scooter & car were being driven mostly driving a vehicle is a serious issue. But this is certainly pre-
by 62%(488), 18.5% (146) & 1.7%(14) of school children ventable. Basically four stakeholders are involved - parents,
respectively. Use of motorcycle/scooter (23.7%) and car students, teachers and traffic police. Parents should not let
(2.5%) was higher in private schools as compared to govern- their children drive at an early age. Students should refrain
ment schools (11.1 % & 0.6% respectively). Some, 13.3% of themselves from traffic rule violations. School teachers
children started driving under the age of 10 years & females should inculcate traffi safety among students and enforce
(17.9%) outnumbering males (10.4%) at this age. However, traffic rules within school premises. Law enforcement agen-
57.3% of the students started driving after 12 yrs of age. cies like traffic police, license issuing authorities must also be
Driving at such a young age, hence putting their lives and stringent. Young traffic violators and their guardians should
also others life in danger, is ofcourse the result of laxity on be appropriately punished. They should also ensure that the
the part of parents. community is aware of road safety signs which will help in
More than half (57.1%) of students informed that they were reducing existing high accident rate, prevalent in developing
caught for not wearing helmets, & equal number of males countries as India.
& females (12.7%) for not having valid documents. Around References
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Road Safety Awareness and Practices Among School Children
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