ROAD SAFETY; HOW WELL-INFORMED ARE OUR RURAL POPULATION?

Abstract

Sherin Paul1, Sam Marconi David2, Mehul Chourasia3, Fibi Ninan4, Sharon Rymbai5

ABSTRACT: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in a rural block of north Tamilnadu to assess the knowledge; attitude and practice of general population of age group 18 to 35 regarding road safety rules. A semi structured interviewed administered questionnaire was administered among a 115 participants. 82.1% drove vehicle without a license. 75.7% did not know the side of the road to be used by pedestrians for walking. Only 15.7% could recognize all 5 traffic signals properly. Nearly 95.7% agree that helmets prevent accident, but only 37.5% use helmet/seat belt regularly. To prevent casualties due to road traffic accidents (RTA) mass public awareness campaigns should be initiated so that both the driver and the pedestrian will be aware of all the traffic rules properly. The ignorance of one can become fatal for the other.
 

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