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Youth Perceptions and Attitudes towards Road Safety in Serbia

Authors :
Andrijana Pešić
Amanda N. Stephens
Sharon Newnam
Svetlana Čičević
Dalibor Pešić
Aleksandar Trifunović
Source :
Systems, Vol 10, Iss 5, p 191 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for young people. Aberrant driver behaviors, such as drink driving, speeding, not wearing seatbelts, non-compliance with traffic rules and aggressive driving, are key contributors to these crashes. Gender and urban/rural differences are also risk factors. In Serbia, where this study was conducted, as well as in most European countries, younger people have the highest road crash and fatality risk. Thus, it is important to understand not only when these behaviors occur, but also the attitudes surrounding them. The latter will provide an avenue for intervention. To address this, a mixed design study was conducted, using a quantitative survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews to understand the attitudes and safety behaviors of young people (aged 16–25) in Serbia. Results across all methods showed that attitudes and perceptions regarding road safety differ across gender and location (urban/rural). Young drivers reported frequent engagement in alcohol-impaired driving, speeding, non-using seatbelts and using mobile phones while driving. Dominant attitudes underlying these behaviors related to lower perceived risk and a lack of perceived enforcements. These results show support for education campaigns in improving the risky behavior of young drivers.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10050191 and 20798954
Volume :
10
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Systems
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.213b3f27aa61405c866bacef8a1ed73e
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10050191