A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of road safety measures among selected college students, Bengaluru

Deepika Ravichandran; Vidya Gowda; Shashikala Manjunatha; Chandrakala

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20252457

Authors

Deepika Ravichandran Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Vidya Gowda Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Shashikala Manjunatha Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Chandrakala Department of Community Medicine, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20252457

Keywords:

Accident prevention, Driving practices, Road safety, Traffic rules

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accident fatalities are rising in India, making them a significant public health concern. They are a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. The United Nations General Assembly aims to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries globally by 2030.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from medical, engineering, and other disciplines. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding road safety measures. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was taken from all participants.

Results: Among participants, 97.3% of medical students, 86.7% of engineering students, and 100% of students from other disciplines knew that wearing a seat belt while driving is compulsory. Awareness regarding the mandatory use of seat belts for front seat passengers was 97.3% among medical students, 76.7% among engineering students, and 100% among other students. Awareness of the correct side to overtake was higher among those who drove vehicles (80.7%) compared to non-drivers (62%). Following lane discipline was reported by 97.3% of medical students, 70% of engineering students, and 90.5% of students from other disciplines.

Conclusions: Medical students demonstrated better awareness and adherence to road safety measures than engineering and other students. Despite high awareness of key rules, certain unsafe behaviors, such as listening to music while driving, persisted. Non-day scholars and non-drivers exhibited lower awareness. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational programs to improve road safety awareness and practices among students.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

WHO. Road traffic injuries. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/ teams/social-determinants-of-health/safety-and-mobility/decade-of-action-for-road-safety-2021-2030. Accessed on 22 December 2014.

Kharde A, Jain A, Phulambrikar R, Kharde A. Study on awareness of road traffic rules among drivers of rural area: A cross-sectional study. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2018;7(12):969-73.

Adhikari GP. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) trends on Kathmandu-Bhaktapur road after addition of lanes. Open J Civ Eng. 2016;6(3):388-96.

WHO. Road traffic injuries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.

Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety. Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. New Delhi: Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety; 2020 Available at: https://www.roadsafetyngos.org/what-we-do/decade-of-action-for-road-safety-2011-2020/. Accessed on 1 March 2020.

WHO. Road traffic injuries. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/ news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries. Accessed on 3 December 2019.

WHO. The global burden of disease- 2004 update. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/ item/9789241563710. Accessed on 8 July 2015.

Dash DK. India leads world in road deaths: WHO. The Times of India. 2009. Available from: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-08-17/india/281819731road-accidents-road-fatalities-global-road-safety. Accessed on 7 March 2011.

Toroyan T, Peden M, eds. Youth and road safety. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2007.

Ramya MS, Jadhav J, Ranganath TS. A study to determine the awareness and behavioral patterns/practice about road safety measures among undergraduate medical students, Bangalore, India: cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2017;4(3):825-30.

Ratna HV, Rajesh SS, Jayaram A, Rajanna MS, Venkatesh P, Iyengar K. Awareness and behaviour patterns regarding road safety measures among undergraduate students. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2017;4(4):944-8.

Phanindra D, Chaitanya G. Awareness and practice of road safety measures among college going students in Guntur city. Int J Public Health Res. 2016;3(2):54-8.

Reang T, Tripura A. Road safety: knowledge, practice and determinants among undergraduate medical students of Agartala Government Medical College and Govindha Ballabh Pant hospital. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2014;3(8):911-5.