Road Safety And Traffic Crash In Rural Communities Of Cross River South Senatorial District Of Nigeria

Abstract

Road safety has been recognized as one of the main pillars of a sustainable transport system. Road traffic injuries are the single biggest source of fatality among children. Awareness of traffic and road safety education and traffic crash in rural communities of southern Cross River State, Nigeria are necessary conditions for curbing incidence of road crashes. The study specifically correlated embedding road safety programme within the school curriculum framework and compulsory attendance of driver training school with road traffic crashes with rural road crashes. It adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches of survey research. Data were obtained from 630 participants and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient. Results revealed existence of significant positive relationship between road safety education programme within the school curriculum and enrollment in driver training school. The study recommended that increasing the awareness and understanding of traffic and road safety practices through education will have an immediate impact on a reduction in traffic related injuries and fatalities in rural communities.