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Introduction

Many schools of thoughts in the causation of accidents have reached a common agreement about the causes of accidents that the technological improvements in the design and construction of motor vehicles do very little in minimizing road accidents without proper and adequate driver training.

In more industrialized countries, which have adequate driver training resources and facilities, giant steps have been taken which have produced encouraging results in minimizing road traffic accidents and improving road safety. In developing countries however, where technical facilities, training material and financial resources are not readily available, the training of drivers is at a low level and therefore improvement in road safety is regrettably slow. Countries with low literacy levels and a high level of unemployment rate are faced with the problem of having the greater percentage of drivers being illiterates. The fact is that most literature on driving and traffic education is written in English and not much has been done in translating it into the vernaculars of those countries in which the training of illiterate drivers becomes slow.

The electronic media which is known to be an effective means of disseminating educative information to listeners, is sometimes not as effective because most listeners prefer listening to musical programmes than listening to those of traffic education. Radio stations for the benefit of drivers have introduced special radio programmes, but regrettably, commercial vehicle drivers would rather listen to pop music than traffic education programmes.

In road user education worldwide, road signs feature prominently as they are the medium of communication between the regulated laws of the road and the road users. With a view to standardizing the understanding of road signs globally, some road signs are reviewed and sometimes changed.

The Vienna convention describes road traffic signs as the sending of information, warnings and instructions or orders to drivers to enhance safe driving. It further says that they provide communication means for transmitting messages from traffic authorities to drivers and pedestrians. This description clearly highlights the importance and significance of road signs and makes them a key topic in traffic education worldwide.

After extensive research in traffic education on the effectiveness of road signs, some conclusion was reached that some signs are confusing in their interpretation and have a tendency to increase road traffic accidents, traffic interruptions and chaotic situations instead of reducing them. The researchers presumed that:

a) Some symbols used are not easily interpreted by the drivers

b) Some symbols give different meaning from the designed intention

c) Some seem to have more than one interpretation.

Road user education therefore when done at local level using local references with regards the condition and design of local roads, traffic and weather conditions, will be more meaningful and rewarding.

Personal attitudes of road users, particularly the drivers, have impact on the response by them to orders, warnings and instructions given to them by road signs or markings and generally to what they have been taught during their training as drivers.

In some African countries, it is normal to observe that most commercial vehicle drivers are aggressive both in their manner of driving and to other road users. Traffic education to them is theoretical and used only when taking driving tests for either driving licenses or for employment. This is the result of negative attitude.

It is known that the international community lays great emphasis on road safety as it is considered a priority concern due to the great number of traffic accidents. In view of this concern, School Traffic Education Programmes (STEP) has been introduced in both primary and secondary schools with a view to creating some awareness in children at their tender ages so that as they grow up, they will appreciate the importance of road safety.

In the search for plausible methods of enhancing road safety by minimizing road traffic accidents, it has been found that there are three aspects relating to accidents. These are:

a) The driver (human) element and factors, which have a bearing on his driving skills and ability.

b) The improvement of the road infrastructure and furniture and

c) Vehicles vis-à-vis their purposes.

These are aspects, which must be extensively delved into in the training of drivers and in the dissemination of traffic education information by any appropriate medium.

This aspect is the most paramount aspect in the enhancement of road safety. Vehicle manufacturers maintain the belief that improvement of safety devices or the legislation, implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations in road safety would be less fruitful in the enhancement of road safety unless the people handling the vehicles, the drivers, are well trained and competent to handle the vehicles.

Therefore the burden of ensuring that only good and competent drivers are allowed to drive vehicles of all classes rests squarely on the shoulders of those who test and certify them fit and competent to drive vehicles.

Again, in more developed countries, new methods have always been found to test the driving applicants in both their knowledge of the Highway Code and in their practical handling of the vehicles on various traffic, road terrains and weather conditions.

Computerized questionnaires have been developed whereby the applicant is tested on his knowledge of the Highway Code and on road craft before he is put on the road for his practical test. Vehicles simulators have long been developed which are being used today in some countries to test driving applicants. In less developed countries, these facilities are non-existent and Driver Testing Officers have to make use of verbal or sometimes written questions and answers to test applicants on their knowledge of the Highway Code and on their level of road craft before they are taken out on the road for practical road test.

The questions are stereotyped and have been used over the years. It is therefore easy for applicants to get to know the questions long before they come for the test and memorize the answers to enable them pass that aspect of the test. As has been noted earlier in this write-up, countries where illiteracy is prevalent, the focus of trainees is on the practical aspect of driving which they do very well when being tested on the road. The negative result of this is that they, soon after the test, forget what they have memorized for the test and drive vehicles according to the dictates of the patterns they encounter from other drivers who have been on the road before them.

For instance, applicants are asked a very important question about the factors that they must consider from the time they see danger to the time they finally stop the vehicle. Almost every one of them gives the answer that they first know (identify) the problem, predict what is likely to happen; then decide what to do, and finally carry out their decision. The answer is correct according to many driver education manuals, but after their successful test, do they think of their answer to this all-important question? The answer is "No", hence accidents such as one vehicle hitting another at the rear end, or coming face to face of an approaching vehicle often occur.

"Tailgating"- the bad system of driving nose to tail in fast moving traffic has been responsible for such accidents because in this way of driving, a driver has very little time to identify the problem ahead, predict what may happen, decide what to do to remedy the consequence and execute or carry out his decision in time to avert the consequence. This again, is a matter of attitude of a driver involving in an accident of this nature, and not emanating from the fact that he was inadequately tested for his driving license.

Driver training Schools are known to deal with topics relating to

a) Speed and following distance

b) Response time

c) Dangers at intersection

d) Driving on curves-banking the curves, centripetal and centrifugal forces

e) Skids and their causes

f) Causes of accidents

g) Rear end collision

h) Use of seat belts, other restraint systems and crash helmets to name a few.

These topics are exhaustively dealt with by the instructors so that when the trainee finally passes his test and becomes a driver on the road, he should be able to recall the topic while on the road and have as his priority thought, the prevention of accident and the preservation of life and property.

Road safety depends to a large extent on legislations formulated by the Government or by any other Authority to deter road users from doing anything that could lead to an accident of any sort.

The legislations put in place is a measure on the rod to instruct, warn or inform road users of any kind of potential danger that may be ahead and what remedial actions to be taken to; avoid the impending danger.

The Traffic Police Department of the National Police Force and in some countries the Traffic Warden Corps is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws and regulations so enacted.

In my country (Sierra Leone) the Road Traffic Act No. 62 of 1964 and the Road Traffic Regulations of 1960 deal extensively with laws, rules and regulations to be obeyed by drivers, riders and pedestrians to make the road safe. Penalties are imposed for the violation of any of the laws, rules or regulations.

The laws for instance provide that all motorized vehicle must be periodically tested and certified fit for use on the road and that their construction must conform to the purpose for which they are intended. The laws also provide that the driver of a motor vehicle must be trained and qualified in driving a motor vehicle and must undergo a test to provide his competence, which test will enable him to receive a driving license for the category of vehicle he intends to drive.

The manner in which the driver drives the vehicle is another aspect on which the law is strict and severe penalties are handed down to drivers who drive:

(a) Without due care and attention for other road users

(b) a motor vehicle at a speed or manner which is dangerous to the public

(c) Under the influence of drink or drug

(d) Recklessly on a highway

These offences are all intended to deter drivers from driving in a manner likely to endanger lives of other road users including their own lives. Strict and continuous enforcement of these road safety laws and regulations have been known to produce good results where the enforcement agency has been effective.

The law also made it mandatory for the location of road signs, road markings and has introduced hand and trafficator signals to guide road users in the safe use of the roads. Traffic light signals are a significant type of road safety device as they take the place of the Traffic Policeman who cannot be everywhere every time. Enforcement agencies see to it that these aspects are adhered to and do not compromise with any road user violating the rules.

Special Road User Group, the Young, the Old and the vulnerable.

These groups are described as those persons who are susceptible to either injury or death as a result of road traffic accidents everywhere in the world of motoring. It is therefore the responsibility of every government and every parent to safeguard children and the aged and handicapped against all forms of danger whether domestic or arising from traffic accidents.

Governments should enact road safety laws and regulations and put modalities in place for their implementation and enforcement. The parents and guardians should co-operate with the Governments to educate and encourage their children in observing the laws and regulations as they, the parent and guardians will not only be seen to obey them but to give enough time to the interpretation of laws to their children or wards.

With the aged people and the handicapped, the public must be sensitized to give as much help to them as necessary on the use of the roads The laws laid down by Governments should include the installation of traffic signs and signals which the children are made to learn and understand and the drivers and riders to understand and abide by.

It is known that these vulnerable groups lack the ability to judge speed and distance and therefore likely to face risks when attempting to cross the road which is especially busy. The aged and handicapped are sluggish in their movement and unless the drivers of motor vehicles are especially observant, careful and obedient to road signs and markings, these people become victims of accidents through no fault of their own. Therefore, the vulnerable groups and drivers alike must be continuously sensitized and reminded of their obligations on the use of the road.

Road Safety educationists hold the belief that road safety depends on a number of components, which are interrelated. Firstly, the drivers component-i.e. his ability to interprete information given by road signs or markings and road characteristics and on the handling of his vehicle whilst in motion and his ability to make correct and timely decision.

Secondly, the mechanical condition of the vehicle and its behaviour along different road terrains which may have impact on the vehicle’s safety and thirdly, the environment vis-a-vis visibility, the weather condition and the road furniture.

Road safety education must therefore embrace every aspect of the above parameters if its significance is to be understood and felt by those for whom it is meant.

In road safety education, it must be emphasized that the motor vehicles had claimed millions of useful lives in the last century. Records show that the first pedestrian’s death involving a car occurred in 1898. By 1990, traffic accidents were acknowledged to be the world’s ninth biggest cause of death.

In concluding this submission on Road Safety Education, this Universal Body is being called upon to do everything possible to put modalities in place to assist the less fortunate Member States in enhancing Road Safety. What should be borne in mind in this regard are the establishment of Advanced Driver Training Institutions in the less fortunate Member States and the support of the various Governments of those Member States to establish Road Safety Commissions. These commissions should be furnished enough resources both financial and material to enhance this all-important aspect of saving lives on the roads. The Governments of all countries are being called upon to give premium attention to the improvement of roads and their furniture and to put in place strong measures for the implementation and enforcement of road safety, traffic laws and regulations.

Source: The Exclusive