A new study showed one in two Chennai school students are prone to road accidents.
What’s it about? A study by NIT Trichy and IIT Bombay showed one in two school students have been hit by vehicles or have experienced near misses on Chennai roads. Some engaged in risky behaviour by not focusing on the road. Their knowledge was based on and shaped by their parent’s road safety behaviour, like wearing seat belts and helmets.
- 31% of those who met with an accident had no injuries. 5% suffered head injuries, and about 2% had multiple injuries. In half of these incidents, two-wheelers were involved.
- At least 11% of the respondents said their parents didn’t wear helmets, 20% said they didn’t wear seat belts, and 7% said they used their phones while driving.
Commute patterns: Children who walked home from school with a parent or adult engaged in less risky behaviour. About 17% of those surveyed walked home from school. About 35-45% of them did so with friends. With 12% of the respondents cycling to school, some have recommended a dedicated cycling track.