Road Safety

Class 9 | Social Science — Civics | Unit 6

Class 9 Unit 6 Civics

UNIT 6 Road Safety

Learning Objectives

• To understand the increase of road accidents in our country
• To know the causes of road accidents
• To follow the road safety rules

Introduction

In this lesson, we will learn about a road accident refers to any accident involving at least a vehicle, occurring on a road open to public transport, and in which at least one person is injured or killed. Intentional acts (murder, suicide) and natural disasters are excluded from road accidents. Road accidents are the leading cause of death by injury and the tenth-leading cause of all deaths globally. An estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes each year, and as many as 50 million people are injured.

Do You Know?

With over 1 lakh 30 thousand deaths annually India has the worst road accident rate worldwide Every three minutes a child is killed in an accident in the world. The main causes of death by road accidents include

Do You Know?

1. Drunk and drive (40 percent, speeding (24 percent), car boom in India (16 percent), inefficient law enforcement (15 percent) and less use of helmets and seat belts (5 percent)

2. Distractions to Driver

3. Red Light Jumping

4. Overtaking in a wrong manner

DIFFERENT FACTORS TO ROAD ACCIDENTS:

Drivers:

Over-speeding, rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, alcohol

Pedestrians:

Carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places, jaywalkers

Passengers:

Projecting their body parts outside vehicles, talking to drivers, alighting and boarding vehicles from the wrong side, travelling on footboards, catching a running bus etc.

Vehicles:

Failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading

Road Conditions:

Potholes, damaged roads, eroded roads merging of rural roads with highways and illegal speed breakers

Weather conditions:

Fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms

Look at the diagram given above and answer the following.

1. Which road use category causes the highest number of deaths? Could you give any three possible reasons? What would you suggest as the related safety rules?

2. How could pedestrians save themselves from road accidents?

Direct Consequences of Accidents:

1. Fatality (Death)

2. Injury

3. Damage to Property

Preventive measures for accidents:

1. Education and awareness about road safety

2. Strict enforcement of law

3. Engineering: (a) Vehicle design (b) Road infrastructure

Do You Know?

The chances of death by accident can be decreased by 51 percent with the proper use of seat belt and helmet

Road Traffic Deaths Worldwide by Sex and Age Group, 2002

Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease Project, Version 1 (2002).

Look at the above diagram carefully and answer the following.

1. Which age group tops the number of road traffic deaths worldwide? Why?

2. Give some inference on the striking difference between the number of road accident deaths of males and females.

Rules to Ensure Road Safety for children

It is important for children to know about road safety rules and regulations. Here are a few basic road safety rules for children:

1. Know Your Signals

2. Stop, Look and Cross

3. Pay Attention – Listen

4. Don't Run On Roads

5. Always Use Sidewalks

6. Never Stick Hands outside the Vehicle

7. Never Cross Road at Bends

8. Don't Rush

9. Keep left

10. Crossing at zebra line

Exercise

1. What are the benefits of wearing helmet while driving?

2. List out the factors of road accidents.

3. Which colour in the signal means 'stop?

4. List out any three road safety rules:

Answer in detail

1. Explain the factors involved in road accidents.

2. Explain in detail: The road safety rules

Activities

Road Safety Games & Activities

Play is one of the best ways to make children learn important things. A few road safety tips will help the children learn about road safety.

1. Crosswords are excellent learning tools for older students. You can find road safety education crosswords for online.

2. Play guessing games play noises or sounds that they are likely to hear on the street and ask them what it is.

3. Red Light, Green Light Have the children run around and someone yells out, 'red light' and the children have to stop what they are doing until they hear 'green light'.

REFERENCES

1. Dinesh Mohan, 'Road Safety in Less- Motorized Environments: Future Concerns', International Journal of Epidemiology 31, No. 3 (2002)

2. Christopher J.L. Murray and Alan D. Lopez, eds., The Global Burden of Disease: A Comprehensive Assessment of Mortality and Disability from Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors in 1990 and Projected in 2020 (Boston: Harvard School of Public Health, 1996).

3. Courtesy Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India

GLOSSARY

Abandoned Left Allocation An amount of a resource assigned to a particular recipient Amendment Changes made to an existing law Autonomy Self governing Cantonment A military garrison or camp Clusters A group of similar things or people Conceptualisation The action of forming a concept Compensation Amount awarded to someone for injury or loss Community A group of people living in the same place of having particular characteristics in common Consensus General agreement on an isssue Constituency A group of votes in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body. Decentralisation The transfer of authority from central to local government Democratic The government is elected by its citizens. Despotism Excercise of absolute power Dignitaries Persons considered to be of high rank or office Dissolution Formally ending or dismissing an assembly Executive Having to do with carrying out laws Ethnicity Belonging to a particular social group Fundamental Basic Government The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; a particular ministry in office. Grass root level The most basic level Intervene Get involved Judicial Relating to the administration of justice Judiciary The judges of a court considered as a group Legislature Law making body Monarchy A form of government in which a single person is the hereditary head of the state NOTA The people in a democratic country are not willing to elect any candidate ; they can vote for the option called NOTA (None Of The Above). Onslaught A fierce attack Pressure groups A group of people who are organised actively for promoting and defending their common interest. Pursuant Following Representatives A person chosen or appointed to act or speak for another or others. Republic The head of the state is elected directly or indirectly. Racial Related to a race of people Rejuvenated Restore Remedy Solution to an issue /problem Revitalisation To give new life Revived Re-establish Rigid Hard to change Secular Freedom to practice any religion or reject all. Self-Government A system in which the citizens rule themselves Slaughter Killing of animals for food Sovereign Free from the interference or control of any foreign power. Socialist Providing social and economic equality to all citizens. Tier A series of levels of a structure placed one above the other Trafficking Carry forcefully from a placeto another. Victim A person who gets harmed Voluntary Done of one's own free will

ECONOMICS

Book-back Exercises — Questions & Answers

Answers generated strictly from the Samacheer Kalvi textbook content. Attempt each question first, then click "Show Answer" to check.

Exercise

1. What are the benefits of wearing helmet while driving?

Answer: The chances of death by accident can be decreased by 51 percent with the proper use of seat belt and helmet. Helmets protect the head from serious injuries during road accidents.

2. List out the factors of road accidents.

Answer: The different factors of road accidents include: Drivers (over-speeding, rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, alcohol), Pedestrians (carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places, jaywalkers), Passengers (projecting body parts outside vehicles, talking to drivers), Vehicles (failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, overloading), Road conditions (potholes, damaged roads, eroded roads merging of rural roads with highways), and Weather conditions (fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, hail storms).

3. Which colour in the signal means 'stop'?

Answer: Red colour in the signal means 'stop'.

4. List out any three road safety rules:

Answer: Three road safety rules are: 1. Know your signals, 2. Stop, look and cross, 3. Always use sidewalks.

Answer in Detail

1. Explain the factors involved in road accidents.

Answer: Road accidents are caused by various factors. Driver-related factors include over-speeding, rash driving, violation of rules, failure to understand signs, fatigue, and alcohol consumption. Pedestrian factors involve carelessness, illiteracy, crossing at wrong places, and jaywalking. Passenger factors include projecting body parts outside vehicles, talking to drivers, alighting and boarding vehicles from wrong side, and travelling on footboards. Vehicle-related factors are failure of brakes or steering, tyre burst, insufficient headlights, and overloading. Road conditions like potholes, damaged roads, eroded roads, and illegal speed breakers also contribute. Weather conditions such as fog, snow, heavy rainfall, wind storms, and hail storms increase accident risks.

2. Explain in detail: The road safety rules

Answer: Road safety rules are essential for preventing accidents. Children should know their signals and understand traffic lights. They must stop, look and cross roads carefully, paying attention and listening to surrounding sounds. Running on roads should be avoided, and sidewalks should always be used for walking. Never stick hands outside vehicles or cross roads at bends. Avoid rushing and always keep to the left side. Crossing should be done only at zebra lines. Additional preventive measures include education and awareness about road safety, strict enforcement of law, and proper engineering of vehicle design and road infrastructure. Using seat belts and helmets can decrease death chances by 51 percent.

📝 Summary

1. Road accidents are the leading cause of death by injury and the tenth-leading cause of all deaths globally, with an estimated 1.2 million people killed and 50 million injured annually worldwide.
2. India has the worst road accident rate worldwide with over 1 lakh 30 thousand deaths annually, with main causes being drunk driving (40%), speeding (24%), car boom (16%), inefficient law enforcement (15%), and less use of helmets and seat belts (5%).
3. Road accidents are caused by multiple factors including driver-related issues (over-speeding, rash driving, alcohol), pedestrian carelessness, vehicle failures, poor road conditions, and adverse weather conditions.
4. Direct consequences of road accidents include fatality (death), injury, and damage to property, making prevention crucial for public safety.
5. Road safety can be ensured through education and awareness, strict law enforcement, proper engineering of vehicles and road infrastructure, and following basic safety rules like using signals, crosswalks, and protective equipment.