Awareness on Road Traffic Accidents Among College Students

Keerthana B, Vishnu Priya V^* and Gayathri R

^*Correspondence: Vishnu Priya V, Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University Tamilnadu, India, Email:

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Introduction

Road accidents in the nation can be fatal or nonfatal injuries incurred because of road traffic crashes [1]. Road accidents are ninth leading in the cause of deaths and surveys say it may become 5th position by the year 2020. Globally road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death to young people aged 16-21. However, the saddest part is they belong to the next generation and college students [2]. The death toll is a higher side for the countries where pedestrians, two-wheelers and passengers are vulnerable and lacks traffic ethics. According to WHO 1.25 million deaths happen in a year in road traffic accidents worldwide. The United Nations has rightly proclaimed 2011-20 as the Decade of Action on Road Safety. India is a signatory to Brasilia Declaration and is committed to reducing the number of road accidents and fatalities up to 50 per cent by 2020 [3]. Simple measures like awareness and practice of road safety measures can effectively reduce the impact of RTAs on the lives of people [4]. There are possibilities in reducing road traffic accidents by increasing level of awareness and studying the behaviour pattern while using motorized vehicles among the study population [5]. The death rate is increasing in the population of the age group 15- 20 in the national bureau [6].

The importance of knowledge and practice of road safety measures needs to be emphasized in the prevention of RTAs. Child pedestrian injury, an important cause of morbidity and mortality remains one of the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries [7]. Each year in the US approximately 850 children under the age of 15 years are killed & another 30000 are injured in pedestrian crashes [8]. Road safety is a complex process that not only depends on technical and environmental improvements but in a major part from human factors [9]. They are the leading cause of death among young people aged between 15 and 29 years globally. In the South-East Asian region of the World Health Organization, India alone accounted for 73 per cent of these Road traffic accidents (RTA) burden [10]. The highest burden of injuries and fatalities is borne disproportionately by poor people, as they are mostly pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers of buses and minibuses. The previous studies also noted that the problem of road traffic accidents was most severe in developing countries and that simple preventive measures could have a higher number of deaths [11-13]. Some studies state that road accidents are also caused by mental stress and falling asleep, which can also be a major component in road accidents [14-16]. Previous studies reported the level of awareness that drivers have on law and order of non-compliant. It also reported that age and attitude are associated with the exposure to accidents [1]. Previous studies on cancer biology, nano materials, herbal products. A study reported most secondary school students had average awareness and education and strict rules needed to create more awareness and motivate them to reduce morbidity and mortality due to road traffic accidents [3]. Road traffic injury prevention must be incorporated into a broad range of activities, such as the development and management of road infrastructure, the provision of safer vehicles, law enforcement, mobility planning, the provision of health and hospital services, child welfare services, and urban and environmental planning [17,18]. Previous studies on cancer biology, nano materials, herbal products [19- 23] have motivated me to pursue this current research which is useful to our community. The aim of the study is to create awareness on road traffic accidents among college students.

Materials and Methods

Self-structured questionnaire was designed based on awareness of road traffic accidents among college students. The questionnaire was distributed through an online survey planet link to the study population which included 100 students. The participants were explained about the purpose of study in detail. The questions where carefully studied, and the corresponding answers were marked by the participants. The data was collected and statistically analysed.

Results and Discussion

The survey was administered through an online survey planet link to college students in the age group of 18-21 years and 100 responses were seen. 96% agreed that they were aware of traffic signal ethics and 4% disagreed (Figure 1). In the previous research [4] the level of awareness was 74%. 79% agreed that they wore helmets while driving and 21% said that they did not wear helmets (Figure 2). 83.7% agreed that they wore seat belts while driving a car and 16% disagreed with it (Figure 3). Previous studies reported 81% awareness about helmets and seat belts [4].

Figure 1: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on traffic signal ethics. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. Majority 96% responded yes and 4% responded no.

Figure 2: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on usage of helmets. 79% responded yes and 21% responded no.

Figure 3: Pie Chart representing the percentage distributio n of responses about awareness on usage of seatbelts. 83.7% responded yes and 16.3% responded no.

66% of participants had a driving license and 34% did not have a driving license (Figure 4). 87.9% of the participants were aware about the speed limit on the road and 12.1% were unaware about the speed limit (Figure 5). Previous studies explained the speed limit as an important factor in road traffic accidents [13]. 75% agreed that the severity of injuries can be reduced if speed was 10km/hr 25% disagreed (Figure 6). 95.9% agreed that they were aware of drunken driving 4% were unaware about drunk driving (Figure 7). Previous studies showed the importance of alcohol and drugs in road accidents [12,24].

Figure 4: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on driving license. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 66% responded yes and 34% responded no.

Figure 5: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on appropriate speed limit. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 87.9% responded yes and 12.1% responded no.

Figure 6: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on severity of injuries if speed was within 10km or slower. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 75% responded yes and 25% responded no.

Figure 7: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on intake of alcohol causing accidents. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. Majority of 95.9% responded yes and 4.1% responded no.

76.3% agreed that random breath testing could make accidents happen less (Figure 8). 72.3% agreed that their family members were involved in accidents and 27.7% disagreed (Figure 9). Previous study states that climatic conditions due have an impact on road accidents [25]. 85% responded that indicators were used properly and 15% responded that indicators were not used in appropriate places (Figure 10). 88.9% agreed that overcrowding in the vehicle can lead to accidents and 11.1% disagreed (Figure 11). Previous study discussed crowding and its causes in accidents [26]. The next question when asked the reason for driving vehicles too fast. There was a mixed response of 41.6% for fun, 35.6% for style and the rest 22.8% for going to college on time (Figure 12). 94% agreed that driver’s lack of sleep will cause road accidents and 6% disagreed (Figure 13). Previous studies have discussed sleep and road accidents due to it [14-16]. 96% agreed that there is the ability to change society by reducing road accidents (Figure 14).

Figure 8: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on random breath testing in reducing accidents. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 76.3% responded yes and 23.7% responded no.

Figure 9: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on a friend being injured or involved in an accident. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 72.3% responded yes and 27.7% responded no.

Figure 10: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on usage of indicators properly. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. 85% responded yes and 15% responded no.

Figure 11: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on overcrowding causing accidents. 88.9% responded yes and 11.1% responded no.

Figure 12: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on driving vehicles too fast. Violet colour represents for fun, blue colour represents for style and green colour represents for going to college in time. 41.6% responded for fun, 35.6% responded for style and 22.8% responded going to college on time.

Figure 13: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on lack of sleep causing road accidents. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. Majority of 94% responded yes and 6% responded no.

Figure 14: Pie Chart representing the percentage distribution of responses about awareness on decreasing road accidents improves the society. Violet colour represents yes and blue colour represents no. Majority of 96% responded yes and 4% responded no.

Conclusion

Road traffic accidents are a major thing to be concerned about because it affects the younger generation. From this study we may conclude that more awareness camps, seminars may be conducted in educational institutions regarding safety precautions in road, traffic rules, speeding on road, drunken driving, using mobile phones while driving and risks of road traffic accidents.

Acknowledgement

We thank Saveetha Dental College for providing us the support to complete the study.

Conflict of Interest

Nil.

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