But I AM normal Perceptions of safe driving norms in Vietnam Duong Trong Hue1, LindaTrong Brennan LukasBrennan, Parker1 Duong Hue,1, Linda 2 Lukas Parker and Michael Florian and Michael Florian 1RMIT University Vietnam (Asia Injury Prevention Foundation) 2Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
Research Partner
RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation • Founded in 1999 in Vietnam • It now has presences in Thailand and Cambodia. • Develop mass media communication and school curricula. • Implements school-based helmet use and traffic education campaigns. • Advocacy, technical expertise and provision of high quality, culturally appropriate, affordable helmets to these markets. • 2009 saw their launch launch of their Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative alongside the FIA and World Bank
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Protec Helmet Factory • World s first nonprofit helmet factory • Light-weight tropical helmets designed especially for Asian climates • 500,000 units annual capacity per plant • Employs physically disabled workers as 30% of total workforce
RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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2012 was the national year of road safety 2011-2020 is UN s Decade of Action for Road Safety RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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In Vietnam there are
1.3 cars per 100 households 96.1 motorbikes per 100 households 123.4 motorbikes per 100 urban households (General Statistics Office, 2010)
In Canada there are:
150 cars per 100 households (Natural Resources Canada, 2008) RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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80.8% of road accidents in HCMC are caused by motorbikes (Công An Nhân Dân Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh, 2013) RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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Road injury Statistics
• 1,000,000 suffer some form of road-related injury (or death) every year. (Ministry of Health, 2011)
• 3,000 road injuries every day • 36 deaths every day
(Ministry of Health, 2011)
(WHO, 2009)
• Most road injuries are not reported. • Road fatalities are defined by police as dying within 24 hours of a road accident (WHO, 2009) RMIT RMIT University UniversityVietnam Vietnam
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What we wanted to know – Knowledge of road safety principles – The characteristics of a good driver – Influences on driving behaviour
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Methodology Groups
• 10 Focus groups • 72 participants • Qualitative content analysis
Age 16-18
Age 19-25
Parents
Abbrev..
High school students
Male
HSm
8
Female
HSf
6
Mixed
HSmix
8
worker
Male
Wm
7
Female
Wf
8
Mixed
Wmix
7
University Male students Mixed
USm
6
USmix
6
Mothers
Mums
8
Fathers
Dads
10 Total
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No. Participants
74
Enforcement
Regulations
Legal infrastructure
Road Safety
Technical infrastructure
Information/ Education
Road Users Behaviour
Skills
Equipment
RMIT University Vietnam
Attitudes
Knowledge
Attitudes
Technical Infrastructure RMIT University Vietnam
Key points • Bad road conditions • Amount of traffic • Missing or not properly installed and maintained safety features such as traffic light or zebra crossings • Amount and often unsecured construction sites • Flooded streets • Missing divisions between different types of road users
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Attitudes
Legal Infrastructure RMIT University Vietnam
Key Points • Regulations – Too loose (USm)
• Information and Education – Media (HSf, Dads) – Information about accidents (HSmix) – Lack of interesting traffic education in Media (USm)
– Good education about traffic laws (Mums)
• Enforcement – Was discussed very critically in all groups: – Lack of enforcement – Police is not interest in effective enforcement but uses it as (personal) income source – Attitudes towards police encompass hatred, anger and fear
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Attitudes
Road Users RMIT University Vietnam
Equipment • Only discussed in male and mixed groups • Fathers only mention ‘overuse’ of the horn, while younger groups discuss more more comprehensively: – Concerns about the quality of vehicle and other equipment (helmets) – Essential and convenient mean of transport – Function as status symbol
Losing a bike can be considered a serious loss
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Knowledge • Locations – On highways [in the city] people are speeding
• Situations and Experiences – Weather causes slippery conditions (HSf, Wf, USmix) – Sudden turning without indicating (HSm, Dads) particularly of buses (HSm, Wm, USm, USmix, Dads)
– Pedestrians randomly crossing the street (Wmix) – Vehicle suddenly coming out of small road (Wm, USmix, Dads) – Losing control at high speeds in roundabout (Wm) – ‘Losing’ or ‘wasting’ time in traffic
• Concerns – Robbing on the streets (HSm, Wm; also mentioned by Mums, Wf) – Afraid of traffic police (HSf)
“Do not wear your uniform so the police won’t recognize that you’re in highschool” (HSf) RMIT University Vietnam
Attitudes • People do not see driving as a serious problem (HSm) • Residents' are aware of their need for health and survival (Mums)
• High awareness and responsibility, you must realise that your behaviour affects other people’s lives (HSm) • Responsibility to community and for others’ lives (Dads)
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Attitudes ‘Follow the majority’ faults:
If you obey the law, but others don’t, you’re ridiculous (HSm)
Should we obey the law or not in special circumstances? (for example when the majority disobey the law) (Dads)
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Attitudes
What is a good driver? RMIT University Vietnam
What is a ‘good driver’? • Follows traffic regulations (all) – For younger groups license is an important issue • Awareness – Self-awareness and control (HSf, Dads) remain focused reflect own behaviour emotional control (HSm, USm, USmix, Mums, Dads)
– Awareness of others (HSm, Hsmix, Dads) “own behaviour affects others” (HSm) – Awareness of situation – Skills to handle dangerous situations (USmix, Dads) vs. avoid dangerous situation (Dads) RMIT University Vietnam
What is a ‘good driver’? • Responsibilities – Not to endanger self nor others (Hsmix, Wm, Dads) – Respect of others - not selfish (HSf)
• Maintain their equipment – According to law (HSm) – For safety reasons (HSm, Wf, Mums)
• Behaviours – Speed related behaviours – Being predictable – No drink & driving – Wearing helmet – Correct lane – Obeying red light – No parallel driving RMIT University Vietnam
Match behaviours negatively discussed as dangerous ! Awareness about danger not displaying them ! Positive (normative) valuation of not displaying behaviours
What is a ‘good driver’? • Special skills needed in Ho Chi Minh City – Road knowledge of… – Shortcuts (HSf, Usm, USmix, Dads) – One way streets (USmix) – Know traffic police locations (Dads)
– Mounting pavements in traffic jams (HSf) – Avoid and know how to deal with racers (HSf) – How to ‘bribe’ traffic police (HSf) – Be ‘selfish’ (Dads)
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The ‘Typical’ Driver HS male
Male worker
US male
Dads
Inexperienced
More experienced/ control
Quick reactions
Experienced
No helmet
No helmet
Speed to show off
Always helmet
Afraid of police
‘Lazy’ when no police
Risky for the kick
Careful when they driving with family
Too many passengers on a bike
Talking with friends
Ashamed when breaking rules in front of their children
Speed/ race to show off
Speed/ pass to show off
Signaling
Speed being late for school
Using phone
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Dangerous driving behaviours HS male
Male worker
Female worker
Mixed worker
US mixed
Mums
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Dangerous & careless passing
Wrong direction
Speeding
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Uncontrollable speed
Speeding
Use phone
No helmet
Drinking & Driving
No helmet
Going through crowds carelessly
Wrong Direction
Speeding
Parallel driving
Running red lights
(Infrastructure)
Running red lights
Using phone
Running red lights
Use phone
Use phone
(weather)
Wrong Direction
No helmet
“Bad� bike
Continuous honking
Using phone No helmet
RMIT University Vietnam
Speeding • Reasons – To prove oneself (HSm, HSmix) – To impress – Racing (HSmale, Wf, Wmix, USmix)
• Locations/Situations – In a hurry – At night (HSmix) – Empty streets (HSmix) – Highways (HSmix) – When it rains (HSf, USm, Mums)
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Dangerous driving behaviours HS male
Male worker
Female worker
Mixed worker
US mixed
Mums
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Dangerous & careless passing
Wrong direction
Speeding
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Uncontrollable speed
Speeding
Use phone
No helmet
Drinking & Driving
No helmet
Going through crowds carelessly
Wrong Direction
Speeding
Parallel driving
Running red lights
(Infrastructure)
Running red lights
Using phone
Running red lights
Use phone
Use phone
(weather)
Wrong Direction
No helmet
“Bad� bike
Continuous honking
Using phone No helmet
RMIT University Vietnam
Dangerous driving behaviours HS male
Male worker
Female worker
Mixed worker
US mixed
Mums
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Dangerous & careless passing
Wrong direction
Speeding
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Uncontrollable speed
Speeding
Use phone
No helmet
Drinking & Driving
No helmet
Going through crowds carelessly
Wrong Direction
Speeding
Parallel driving
Running red lights
(Infrastructure)
Running red lights
Using phone
Running red lights
Use phone
Use phone
(weather)
Wrong Direction
No helmet
“Bad� bike
Continuous honking
Using phone No helmet
RMIT University Vietnam
No helmet • Negatively discussed by high school students, university students and parents • Positively: Wear helmet (HSmix, Wm, Wmix, USm) – Quality helmet (HSm) – Buckle (HSm)
“Parents didn’t teach us to buy suitable helmets” (USmix)
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Dangerous driving behaviours HS male
Male worker
Female worker
Mixed worker
US mixed
Mums
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Dangerous & careless passing
Wrong direction
Speeding
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Uncontrollable speed
Speeding
Use phone
No helmet
Drinking & Driving
No helmet
Going through crowds carelessly
Wrong Direction
Speeding
Parallel driving
Running red lights
(Infrastructure)
Running red lights
Using phone
Running red lights
Use phone
Use phone
(weather)
Wrong Direction
No helmet
“Bad� bike
Continuous honking
Using phone No helmet
RMIT University Vietnam
Running red lights • Attitudes – Don’t cross light but get blamed for blocking the road (HSm) – Passing red light with high speed (Wm)
• Situations – Rush hour/traffic jams – At noon when people think police are not on the streets (Mums)
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Dangerous driving behaviours HS male
Male worker
Female worker
Mixed worker
US mixed
Mums
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Dangerous & careless passing
Wrong direction
Speeding
Speeding
Drinking & Driving
Uncontrollable speed
Speeding
Use phone
No helmet
Drinking & Driving
No helmet
Going through crowds carelessly
Wrong Direction
Speeding
Parallel driving
Running red lights
(Infrastructure)
Running red lights
Using phone
Running red lights
Use phone
Use phone
(weather)
Wrong Direction
No helmet
“Bad� bike
Continuous honking
Using phone No helmet
RMIT University Vietnam
Dangerous Driving Behaviours • Unpredictable behaviours – Turning without indicating (HSm, HSf, Hsmix, Wm, Wf, Usm) – Suddenly breaking (HSf, Dads) • Overloading the bike (HSm, HSf, HSm, Wm, USm, Dads) – Too many passengers – More than two ADULT passengers (Mums) – Goods – Dropping load • Parallel driving (HSm, Usm, USmix, parents) • Passing (USm, Dads) – Without horn (Wm) – Dangerously or carelessly through crowds (Dads) RMIT University Vietnam
Dangerous Driving Behaviours • Using the horn – Continuously (Wf, Mums, Wmix, USmix) – Too loud (Wf, Dads, Wf) – Equipment: lousy horn (HSm, HSf, Wf) – Positive: reasonable use of horn (HSf, Wmix), passing without a horn (Wm) • Teasing (HSf) • Arguing after accident (HSf) • Unsafe vehicles (HSmix) • Swerving (HSmix) • Showing off jewelry (Mums) RMIT University Vietnam
Conclusions • Legal Infrastructure, technical infrastructure and the road users themselves have their weaknesses. • Laws are in place, but are not sufficiently, nor consistently enforced. • Road safety education is often lacking, especially outside schools. • Miseducation sometimes occurs in absence of clear guidance. • Driving skills are generally good, however ‘following the crowd’ can lead to non-observance of laws and unsafe behaviour. • Roads are often poorly maintained and lacking safe design. RMIT University Vietnam
Where next? • This was the first step in a greater research project into norms and motorcycle speeding behaviour. • Over 400 university students from four universities in HCMC have been surveyed and we are beginning data analysis. • Stay tuned for the results!
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Thanks
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