Organisation: Department for Infrastructure (NI)
Date uploaded: 8th December 2011
Date published/launched: June 2011
The Young Persons’ Behaviour and Attitudes Survey is a school-based survey conducted among 11-16 year olds carried out every three years. The survey covers a range of topics relevant to the lives of young people, including road safety.
The main aim of the YPBAS is to gain an insight into, and understanding of, their behaviour and lifestyle. It also aims to influence various government policies and practices relating to young people and to facilitate access to research findings and expertise. The YPBAS was first carried out in 2000 and again in 2003, 2007 and 2010. This technical report documents the various stages of the fourth round of the YPBAS, conducted in 2010. 77 schools agreed to participate in the study, resulting in a response rate of 44%.
Key findings with regard to road safety are:
• On at least some occasions, 61% of pupils use a mobile phone or mp3 player while crossing the road, 30% run across the road without checking for traffic and 56% carry
on with friends while crossing the road.
• Approximately four fifths of pupils always wear a seatbelt in the front seat (81%) and three quarters in the back seat (74%) of a car. More than four in 10 (42%) never wear bright coloured clothes while cycling or walking at night, and 51% never wear a cycle helmet.
• In the 12 months prior to the survey, half (51%) of pupils had some type of education on road safety in school, mostly provided by teachers (56%), and 77% of these pupils found it useful.
For more information contact:
Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency
T: 02890 540801