The impact of negative attitude towards safety compliance in Unitrans fuel and chemical.

Abstract

South Africa is among those countries that have the highest rate of road accidents in the world. Road accidents have a negative impact on a country's development; therefore reduction of road accidents is a priority for the South African government in general, and road transporters in particular. Unitrans Fuel and Chemical (UFC) is one of the major road transporters of dangerous goods in South Africa; this study was undertaken to explore the impact of negative attitudes on safety compliance at UFC by its truck drivers. The focus of the study was informed by the element of human failures, and the role played by such failures in road accidents.

In light of driver behaviour being a product of non-tangible elements such as attitudes, feelings and beliefs, the quantitative study undertaken, sets out to explore the impact of negative attitudes on safety compliance. A sample was taken from the UFC's Clairwood depot, and data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics. Other non­ parametric tools were also used to analyse data. The findings are presented in Chapter Four. The researcher used a Likert Scale instrument to measure elements of attitude amongst UFC drivers.

The results clearly indicate attitude plays a major role in the lack of safety compliance by drivers. The study also provides recommendations to address issues of driver attitude that are clearly illustrated by the figures in Chapter Four. Recommendations will allow UFC to address areas of negative driver attitude displayed by respondents to the questionnaire. The study recognizes that changing driver behaviour is not an easy task, and commends UFC for the effort applied in addressing this problem.