Road Safety Knowledge and Behaviour Among Young Drivers in a Semi-Urban Indian Setting: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Undergraduate Medical Students

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Published: Jul 7, 2026
Keywords:
road traffic accidents; road safety awareness; driving behaviour; young drivers; India; injury prevention; semi-urban
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Dr Sohan Lal
Dr Anurag Verma
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:52:"Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai";}
Dr Pankaj Kumar Jain
Dr Naresh Pal Singh
Dr Anamika Chandra
Dr Udayakumar Rangasamy
Dr Shushil Kumar Shukla

Abstract

Background: Road traffic injuries are a major public health concern, especially among young adults aged 15–44 years. India accounts for nearly 11% of global road traffic deaths despite having only 3% of the world’s vehicles. Limited evidence exists on road safety awareness and driving practices among young adults in semi-urban India.


Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 undergraduate medical students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Saifai Block, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, between September and October 2023. Census sampling included consenting students with driving experience. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic profile, road safety awareness, and driving practices. Scores were categorised as good or poor using the mean score cut-off. Associations were tested using the chi-square test.


Results: Most participants were aged 18–24 years (72.4%), male (74.0%), and two-wheeler users (88.6%). Good awareness was observed in 54.8% of participants. Awareness was significantly higher among older participants and males. Better practice scores were associated with younger age and two-wheeler use. Gender was not significantly associated with practice. Human error was the most commonly perceived cause of road traffic accidents.


Conclusion: Road safety awareness and practices differed by demographic factors, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions for young drivers in semi-urban India.


 


 

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How to Cite
Lal, D. S., Verma, D. A., Kumar Jain, D. P., Pal Singh, D. N., Chandra, D. A., Rangasamy , D. U., & Kumar Shukla, D. S. (2026). Road Safety Knowledge and Behaviour Among Young Drivers in a Semi-Urban Indian Setting: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Undergraduate Medical Students. Central India Journal of Medical Research. Retrieved from https://cijmr.com/index.php/cijmr/article/view/402
Issue
Online First 2026
Section
Original Research Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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