Road Safety Awareness, Knowledge, and Driving Practices Among College Student Drivers at Saint Mary’s University

Road traffic accidents remain a major global health issue, with approximately 1.19 million people dying annually. Driving practices encompass the actual behaviors and actions that drivers exhibit on the road, ranging from safe defensive driving techniques to dangerous habits that significantly increase accident likelihood. While studies have examined young drivers' practices and road safety knowledge, gaps remain, including outdated research and missing educational programs designed for student drivers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the road safety awareness, knowledge, and driving practices of college student drivers at Saint Mary's University. The present study used descriptive, comparative, and correlational designs and employed purposive-quota sampling to select the 37 respondents of this study. Results showed that respondents generally demonstrated very high levels of road safety awareness, good understanding of traffic rules, and commonly exhibited safe observed driving practices. Moreover, these levels remained consistent across most demographic characteristics, including age, sex, department, and driving experience, except vehicle ownership, which significantly enhanced awareness, and license status, which affected practices. Furthermore, correlation analyses revealed that awareness operated independently from both knowledge and practices. However, a significant positive correlation existed between knowledge and practices, suggesting that a comprehensive understanding promoted safer driving behaviors. Additionally, thematic analysis identified defensive driving practices and formal training as primary improvement strategies. The study concluded that college student drivers possessed high safety consciousness and that a deep understanding of traffic regulations served as a foundation for safer driving behaviors rather than awareness alone. For the Land Transportation Office, findings suggested enhancing licensing procedures and incorporating comprehensive knowledge-based assessments. Meanwhile, for the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, results recommended shifting from general awareness campaigns to detailed regulatory education. Overall, multi-faceted interventions combining structured education, practical training, and behavioral reinforcement were more effective than awareness campaigns alone for promoting road safety among college students.