Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part VI. Road-related behaviour.

The prevalence of a wide range of risk-taking behaviour among high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, was investigated. In this article, the findings for road-related behaviour are presented. Cluster sampling techniques produced a sample of 7,340 students from 16 schools in the three major education departments. A self-administered questionnaire was completed in a normal school period. Estimates for each education department were weighted to produce an overall estimate. During the previous year, 8.5% of the students had been involved in a motor vehicle accident, and 7.4% had been injured in a pedestrian accident. Of those who had driven a vehicle, 63.2% reported driving without a licence; 16.1% drove an overcrowded vehicle; and 8% reported driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. Of those who had been on a motorcycle, 47.9% reported riding without a helmet. Despite the availability of seat belts, 37.3% had failed to wear one on the last occasion they were in the front seat of a vehicle. Variations according to gender, standard, and home language(s) were identified. The prevalence of risk behaviour was higher in males, who also showed a more pronounced increase in such behaviour with age. The need for accident prevention programmes remains urgent.