'n Eksperimentele ondersoek na die invloed van deelname aan skolierpatrollieaktiwiteite op gesindheid teenoor padveiligheid in latere lewe

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of experience in scholar patrol activities on the road behaviour of ex-patrol members during their adult years. Data were also obtained from school principals and traffic officers regarding the effectiveness of scholar patrol service, its educational value and influence on attitudes. As this study enters the field of traffic psychology, the magnitude of the accident phenomenon in South Africa is illustrated, with emphasis on the following: (1) increase in road traffic deaths; (2) growth in population and vehicle population; {3) the accident situation in South Africa as compared with other countries; {4) disregard of traffic rules as a contributing factor in accidents, and; (5) the main contributing factors, in order of priority, which cause accidents. In the light of the above it was concluded that research in the field of road safety is absolutely essential. The use of scholar patrols is a component of the South African Road Safety Council's action programme to ensure the safety of school children. To illustrate clearly the functions of the scholar patrols mention is made of the general objectives, organisation and duties. Further, in order to create a better understanding among the youth, the other activities of the Council are also briefly reviewed. 'Attitude'· is defined as a mental and physical condition of preparedness which developes as a result of previous experience and which exercises a directive or dynamic effect on the individual• s responses in respect of all objects and situations. In the concept ... attitude ... three elements are clearly distinguishable, i.e. (1) a condition of preparedness; (2) the influence of experience, and; (3) the directive and dynamic effect thereof on response to an object or situation.

In a study made of the principal empirical_ investigations concerning attitudes towards road safety, it was con eluded that the existing data were insufficient and that there was a great need for further research in the field. The main aspects studied were investigations concerning attitudes towards traffic regulations, investigations which differentiate between various attitudes towards road behaviour, and investigations concerning attitudes towards road use and personality factors. Important contributions on the subject are the "Siebrecht Attitude Scale II and the "Conover Driver Attitude Inventory". In constructing an attitude scale for this study, Rensis Likert's method was used (method of summated ratings). For the purpose of drafting a questionnaire forty .. six assertions (items) concerning safe road use were made. In order to determine whether the questionnaire contained assertions which would differentiate significantly between potential high scorers and potential low scorers, it was submitted for completion to a sample group consisting of fifty persons with different occupations. From the data obtained a final attitude questionnaire consisting of twenty assertions (items), was compiled. In order to include ex-patrol members in the investigation, an attitude questionnaire as well as a general information questionnaire was submitted to 100 first year students of psychology at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. From these students two groups consisting of forty each were composed - one comprising an experimental group who had served in scholar patrols during their school years and the other a control group who had had no experience in scholar patrol work. For the purpose of obtaining the opinions of school principals and traffic officers separate questionnaires for each were compiled. The questionnaire for principals was posted to 50 high and 50 primary schools throughout the Republic out of which 15 were returned by high schools and 20 by primary schools. The questionnaire for traffic

officers was distributed to 50 traffic departments in all four provinces of the Republic out of which 25 were returned. The general attitude of both scholar patrol and non-scholar patrol group was favourable towards the attitude object. The averages for these groups on the attitude continuum were 4. 08 and 3. 89, respectively. The variance in averages is significant at the 5 per cent level. The percentage differences endorses this finding (95 per cent of the experimental group displayed an attitude of 3. 5 and over, in comparison with 87. 5 per cent in the control group). The fiducial limit for both hipothetical student populations - ex-patrol members and non-members - is • 10. From an analysis of the averages of males and females in each respective group, it appeared that the variance in averages of the males and the females in the experimental group are significant. The same was concluded concerning the males and females of the control group. The variance in averages of the males in the experimental group and the males in the control group is significant, while that of the scholar patrol males and non-scholar patrol females is significant at the 1 per cent level. A similar finding was made when the averages of the scholar patrol females were compared with the males and females of the non-scholar patrol group. Hence it was concluded that the average of the females in the non-scholar patrol group influenced the group as a whole and that the significant variance in attitudes found in the two sample groups, could possibly be attributed to this. Possession of a driver's licence as a variable factor indicates no influence on the attitude of the testees. In none of the cases was the chi-square test strong enough to reject the null hypothesis. With a reliability coefficient of .88 the attitude scale can be regarded as almost perfectly reliable. The validity of the scale depends on the fact that only those assertions which indicated a

significant difference between.high and low-score--groups, were included in the final questionnaire. From the data obtained from school principals, it appears that scholar patrol activities find better acceptance at primary than at high schools. The majority of principals who do make use of scholar patrols are of the opinion that these patrols are successful and that the activities attached thereto stimulate leadership, responsibility and safety-mindedness. Data obtained from traffic officers confirmed that establishment of scholar patrols is successful. Especially interesting was the finding that school children seem to be more susceptible to road accidents at schools who do not make use of scholar patrols. In this study it has been indicated that scholar patrols can be regarded as effective and that participation in these activities evidently has a positive influence on developing correct attitudes towards road safety in adult years.