Exploring the Student’s Perceptions on Safety Aspects of the University of Nizwa Bus Service in Oman

Abstract

The crashes of educational institutions buses have become common and posing a serious risk to students’ lives in Oman. There are many reasons for the increasing bus crashes including driver’s risk-taking behavior and non-compliance with traffic laws. This study aims to assess the safety aspects of the University of Nizwa bus service considering the perceptions of its students. A questionnaire was designed, and the student’s perceptions were asked on driving attitudes, styles and norms, and some other selected attributes of bus service safety. The total collected samples were 350. Almost 30% of the students have experienced a crash while traveling on the bus. Student’s perceptions showed that speeding and cell phone usage are the main reasons for the bus crashes as drivers frequently use cell phone and exceed the speed limits. Some students believed that the age and experience of the drivers influence their driving behavior and crash propensity. Bus service reliability and comfort, driver’s driving habits, norms, and compliance with traffic signs are underlying factors of student’s intentions to use the bus service in the future. Strict enforcement related to the use of cell phone and exceeding the speed limits and proper compliance of drivers with traffic rules would help in improving the safety of bus service. The educational institutions should develop a clear safety policy regarding the hiring of drivers for buses and monitoring of their behavior during driving. There is also a need to initiate special training and awareness programs for the bus drivers of educational institutions.