Assessment of human factors as a main contributory factor to youth-related road fatalities, and countermeasures to address the problem

Abstract

Road-related deaths contribute significantly to the death rate in South Africa (SA) and across the world, especially among the youth. The current study investigated road fatalities among the age group classified as youth, between the ages of 20 and 35 years, from the perception of traffic officers and crash investigators. In addition, the current study attempted to identify countermeasures to address this problem. The cross-sectional, quantitative study used a questionnaire for the collection of the data. The study found that the main human factors that contribute to fatalities among youth aged 20-35 years are drunken driving, speeding, disregard for traffic lights, overtaking and not wearing a seatbelt. The study found a strong correlation between speeding and drunken driving. The study also captured strategies that can be implemented, and key among those was the need for stricter requirements for obtaining a driver’s licence, increased visibility of traffic officers at high-accident zones, more traffic fine enforcement, and implementing road safety education as part of the school curriculum. The results of this study could assist policymakers to develop programmes aimed at this specific age group between 20 and 35 years and passing laws that can address the legislative-related gaps as identified in the current study.

Padverwante sterftes dra aansienlik by tot die sterftesyfer in Suid-Afrika (SA) en regoor die wêreld, veral onder jeugdiges. Hierdie studie het padsterftes ondersoek onder die ouderdomsgroep wat as jeug geklassifiseer word – dit is persone tussen 20 en 35 jaar oud – vanuit die persepsie van verkeersbeamptes en ongelukondersoekers. Boonop het hierdie studie gepoog om teenmaatreëls te identifiseer om hierdie probleem op te los. Dié deursnee- kwantitatiewe studie het ’n vraelys gebruik om data in te samel. Die studie het bevind dat die belangrikste menslike faktore wat tot sterftes by jeugdiges tussen die ouderdomme van 20 en 35 jaar bydra, dronkbestuur, spoed, die minagting van verkeersligte, verbysteek en versuim om ’n sitplekgordel te dra, is. Die studie het ook ’n sterk korrelasie tussen spoed en dronkbestuur gevind. Die studie het ook strategieë uitgewys wat geïmplementeer kan word, met die volgende strategieë wat deurslaggewend was: die behoefte aan strenger vereistes om ’n rybewys te bekom, verhoogde sigbaarheid van verkeersbeamptes by hoë-ongeluksones, strenger afdwinging van verkeersboetes en die implementering van padveiligheidsonderrig as deel van die skoolkurrikulum. Die resultate van hierdie studie kan beleidmakers help om programme te ontwikkel wat op hierdie bepaalde ouderdomsgroep – persone tussen 20 en 35 jaar – gerig is en wette aanneem wat aandag sal gee aan die regsverwante leemtes wat in dié studie geïdentifiseer is.

Mahu ao a hlolwago ke dikotsi tša mebileng ke sebakwakgolo go palomoka ya mahu ka Afrika Borwa le lefaseng ka bophara, kudukudu go baswa. Nyakišišo ye e sekasekile dikotsi tša mebileng go dihlopha tša baswa ba mengwaga ya magareng ga 20 le 35, go ya ka dipego tša bahlankedi ba mebila le banyakišiši ba dikotsi tša mebileng. Go tlaleletša mo, nyakišišo ye e laeditše magato ao a ka tšewago go šomana le bothata bjo. Nyakišišo e šomišitše mokgwa wa khwanthithethifi ka go šomiša mananeopotšišo go kgoboketša datha. Nyakišišo e hweditše gore mabaka ao a hlolago dikotsi go baswa ba mengwaga ye magareng ga 20 go ya go ye 35 ke go otlela ba nwele madila, go otlela ka lebelo, go hlokomologa melao ya mebileng (diroboto), go feta dinamelwa tše dingwe le go se apare mapanta a polokego. Nyakišišo e hweditše gore go na le tswalano e matla magareng ga go otlela ka lebelo le go otlela o nwele madila. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo di laeditše gore go na le tlhokego ya go bea melawana e thata ya go hwetša laesense ya go otlela, go oketša bahlankedi ba taolo ya sephethephethe mafelong ao go bago le dikotsi tše ntši, go oketša kotlo go bao ba tshelago melao ya mebileng le go akaretša thuto ya polokego ya mebileng go kharikhulamo ya sekolo. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo ye di ka thuša badiramelao go hlama mananeo ao ba ka a lebišago go sehlopha sa baswa ba mengwaga ya magareng ga 20 le 35 le go bea melao yeo e tla thibago tlhaelelo ye e utolotšwego ke nyakišišo ye