Knowledge on road safety measures among school children in selected schools, Kottayam

Road safety measures are the methods and measures that are issued to reduce risks of injury, death and harm to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.1 The aim of road safety is to convey information to road users so as to enhance their knowledge on road safety measures, influence their behavior and or prepare them for new safety measures. As adults, we are responsible for young children's safety around traffic whether they are pedestrians or passengers.2 The aim of the study is to assess the level of knowledge among school children regarding road safety measures and also to find out the association between level of knowledge regarding road safety measures and selected demographic variables. Using quantitative research approach, descriptive design was used from a total of 100 school children were selected by probability lottery sampling technique from eighth and ninth standards of selected school in Kottayam. Self developed semi structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect data from school children. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Among 100 school children, 52% of them are pedestrians, 28% of school children uses motor vehicles, 18% uses school bus and only 2% uses cycle as mode of transport. The study result showed that 53% had average knowledge level, 45% had good knowledge and only 2% of the school children had poor knowledge regarding road safety measures. Study findings denoted that there is significant association found between the gender and mode of transport to the school and knowledge regarding road safety measures. Road traffic accidents are one of the main causes of death and injury to children of school age.3 From the above study findings it was revealed that the school children are aware of road safety measures and had adequate knowledge regarding the road safety measures.