EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAFFIC

SAFETY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED

IN SANTA ROSA, NUEVA ECIJA

An Undergraduate Research
Presented to
The faculty of the Criminal Justice Program
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, STA. ROSA, NE, INC.
Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirement of the Subject
Criminological Research 1
(RESI-CRC)

Cruz, KC Joy B.
Fabre, John Andrei P.
Francisco, Eljeff
Longalong, Leanie M.
Mactal, Tristan Mar L.
Marasigan, Lowell R.

December 2024

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 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Traffic safety remains a critical concern in provincial areas of the Philippines,

where rapid urbanization and increasing vehicle ownership present unique challenges for

local traffic management. The growing number of vehicles, pedestrians, populations and

other road users in provincial roads and highways has contributed to a rise in traffic-

related incidents, highlighting the vital role of effective traffic management in ensuring

public safety.

In the Philippines, data from the Land Transportation Office shows that registered

motor vehicles have significantly increased, reaching 13.5 million in 2023, marking a

65% rise from 2015 figures (LTO, 2023). A staggering 529,578 motorists were arrested

in 2023 as the LTO intensified its implementation of road safety and traffic laws

nationwide, highlighting the persistent challenges in ensuring road user compliance, this

is based on LTO Annual Report of 2023. According to World Health Organization

reports, approximately 1.19 million lives are lost annually due to road traffic crashes

globally. Additionally, between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, many

resulting in disabilities. These accidents not only cause immense human suffering but

also inflict substantial economic losses, costing most countries about 3% of their gross

domestic product through treatment expenses, lost productivity, and the impact on

families who must care for injured members (WHO, 2023).

The Traffic Management Group (TMG) in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, operates

within this challenging provincial context. As one of the growing municipalities in Nueva

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Ecija, Santa Rosa faces distinct traffic management challenges, including the mix of

agricultural vehicles, public transportation, and private vehicles on both main highways

and provincial roads. Through various enforcement activities such as checkpoints,

infrastructure improvements, including road establishment, and public awareness

campaigns, the municipality of Santa Rosa works to create a safer transportation

environment for the municipality's residents. However, the effectiveness of these

measures, particularly in a provincial setting, has not been thoroughly evaluated.

The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of traffic safety measures

implemented in Santa Rosa. By analyzing current initiatives' impact, this research will

provide crucial insights for improving operations in provincial settings, including the

effectiveness of traffic safety measures.

This study's findings will significantly contribute to understanding traffic

management and road safety in provincial areas of the Philippines. The research will

offer the TMG and local authorities a detailed assessment of their traffic safety initiatives,

considering the unique characteristics and challenges of provincial traffic management.

This will enable them to develop more targeted and effective strategies for enhancing

traffic safety in Santa Rosa. Moreover, the results will benefit not only the residents of

Santa Rosa and the traffic management group but could also serve as a valuable reference

for other municipalities facing similar traffic management challenges in provincial

settings.

The impact of this research extends beyond immediate traffic safety

improvements. By enhancing our understanding of effective traffic management in

provincial areas, this study will contribute to the broader goal of creating safer and it can

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be a basis for more efficient transportation systems in similar municipalities across the

provincial setting, ultimately improving the quality of life for provincial residents while

addressing their unique transportation needs and challenges.

Review of Related Literature

Foreign literature

In developing state, transportation is one of today's needs for different human

activity. People need vehicles in any form as a mode of transportation to reach to their

target destination. Before, people used animals to travel from one place to another but at

present fuel Automobiles have been invented to make transportation more convenient,

comfortable, and faster. (Lauderis et al., 2019)

According to Bionat (2018), factors that affected the traffic situation, driver and

pedestrian awareness and observance of laws, types of vehicles traversing the roads, flow

and route of traffic and other features were also considered as important aspects, as not

only traffic regulations affect the traffic situation, other facets such as discipline of the

populace, breadth and width of roads, the implementing offices for traffic laws and their

officers are indispensable elements of the overall traffic situation in the city. Traffic

regulations and legislations greatly affect society, transportation is a vital aspect of

civilization, hence, improving traffic regulations tend to refine the daily traffic conditions

and improve daily lives of citizens, and on the other hand, poor traffic regulation and

enforcement can be compared to a calamity or disaster which no one would want to

encounter.

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 In the study of Prakash and Sruthy (2023), traffic sign recognition (TSR) systems

are essential for strengthening road safety, enhancing traffic management, and promoting

efficient driving due to the ever-increasing number of vehicles on the roads and the need

for better transportation systems. Modern intelligent transportation systems rely on TSR

systems to help with the detection, categorization, and interpretation of traffic signs.

These technologies improve driving assistance and road safety by automatically

recognizing and comprehending the information contained in traffic signs through the use

of computer vision and AI. By automating the recognition process, these systems lessen

the load on drivers, limit the possibility of human error, and help to keep the roads safe

by reducing infractions and accident.

Road traffic safety should be evaluated throughout the entire life cycle of road

design, operation, maintenance, and expansion construction. However, traditional

methods for evaluating road traffic safety based on traffic accidents and conflict

technology are limited by their inability to account for the complex environmental factors

involved. (Du et al., 2023)

According to Ban et al., (2019), significant developments have occurred in traffic

intersection control through connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The researchers

extensively studied urban traffic intersections over the last decade, providing

comprehensive insights into how automation can enhance traffic management. Their

findings align with the current study's focus on improving traffic management efficiency,

though their urban-centric approach may require adaptation for provincial settings like

Santa Rosa..

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 According to World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, effective interventions

include designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use

and transport planning, improving the safety features of vehicles; enhancing post-crash

care for victims of road traffic crashes; setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks,

and raising public awareness.

Local literature

In the study of Oños (2021), highlighted significant gaps in traffic education and

awareness. The study found heavy reliance on LTO examinations as the primary

educational source, with limited formal institutions offering comprehensive traffic

education. This finding directly supports the current study's examination of preventive

measures in traffic management.

The importance of traffic laws is undeniable because it is designed to protect both

the lives of the Drivers and passengers. Having sufficient knowledge of rules on the road

and much more on practicing those rules makes a driver skilled and would surely

minimize the accidents or crash on the road. (Aydinan, 2020)

According to Dela Cruz et al., (2024) human error was the primary cause of road

crashes, with speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving,

failure to adhere to traffic rules, and aggressive driving behaviors identified as significant

factors. Road infrastructure and design, public awareness and attitudes, technological

interventions, and enforcement measures significantly contribute to road crash incidents.

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 It is generally accepted that it is not possible to completely prevent vehicle

crashes, but that some of the injuries and severity can be prevented or minimized by

skilled traffic enforcer. (Carpio, 2020)

Theoretical Framework

The theoretical foundation for evaluating traffic safety measures in Santa Rosa

Nueva Ecija is primarily anchored in the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP)

Theory by Everett M. Rogers which perfectly aligns with the study's focus on awareness,

implementation, and effectiveness. This theory provides a structured approach to

understanding how knowledge influences attitudes and how these, in turn, affect actual

practices in traffic safety. The KAP Theory serves as an ideal framework because it

directly addresses the three key aspects of the study. In terms of awareness, the theory

explains how knowledge acquisition about traffic safety measures forms the foundation

of understanding among road users. This theoretical component helps researchers analyze

how well the community understands the implemented traffic safety measures and their

importance. Regarding implementation, the theory's attitude component provides insights

into how people's perceptions and beliefs about traffic safety measures influence their

acceptance and support of these interventions. This theoretical aspect helps explain the

relationship between people's understanding of safety measures and their willingness to

comply with them. For effectiveness evaluation, the practice component of KAP Theory

examines the actual behavioral changes and compliance with implemented traffic safety

measures. This aspect of the theory helps researchers assess whether increased awareness

and positive attitudes toward traffic safety measures translate into actual behavioral

changes and improved safety outcomes. Supporting the KAP Theory is the

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Implementation Theory, which specifically addresses how policies and programs are put

into action. This theory helps explain the factors that influence successful implementation

of traffic safety measures, including resource allocation, stakeholder participation, and

operational efficiency. It provides a framework for understanding the gap between policy

formulation and actual implementation, which is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness

of traffic safety measures. These theories together form a comprehensive framework that

allows researchers to examine the relationship between community awareness of traffic

safety measures, the quality of their implementation, and their ultimate effectiveness in

improving road safety in Santa Rosa Nueva Ecija. This theoretical foundation helps guide

the research methodology and provides a structured approach to analyzing the success of

traffic safety initiatives in the community. Through this theoretical lens, researchers can

better understand how awareness levels influence implementation success and how both

factors contribute to the overall effectiveness of traffic safety measures. This

understanding is crucial for developing recommendations to improve traffic safety

programs and ensure their sustainable impact in Santa Rosa Nueva Ecija.

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Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

• Level of awareness • Descriptive • Provides

about traffic safety Research Design recommendations
measures on how to enhance
traffic safety
• Purposive Sampling measures
• Level of
implementation of
traffic safety • Data collection using • Provide detailed
measures survey questionnaire data that can be
use as a basis to
develop and
• Degree of implement
• Statistical treatment
effectiveness of effective traffic
of data:
traffic safety safety measures.
measures • Frequency

• Percentage

• Weighted Mean

Figure 1. Paradigm of the study

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Figure 1 illustrates the conceptual framework of the study. As shown within the research

paradigm, the input of the study is the level of awareness about traffic safety measures,

level of implementation of traffic safety measures, and the degree of effectiveness of

traffic safety measures. The next stage involves the steps the researchers will take to find

solutions to the issue, primarily using survey questionnaires. Finally, the outcome will

present the solution to the problem and the anticipated result.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of traffic safety measures

implemented in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Specifically, it seeks to address the following

questions:

1. What is the level of awareness of the respondents on the traffic safety

measures by the municipality of Santa Rosa?

2. What is the level of implementation of traffic safety measures by the

municipality of Santa Rosa as perceive by the respondents?

3. What is the degree of effectiveness of the traffic safety measures

implemented in Santa Rosa as perceive by the respondents?

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Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study focuses on determining the effectiveness of traffic safety measures

within Santa Rosa. Such, the research will focus exclusively within selected barangay in

Santa Rosa. The respondents of this study are residing in barangay Rizal, Tramo, Burgos,

and Lafuente. It will also be limited to motorists, as they are the primary users of the

road.

Significance of the Study

This research aims to find out the effectiveness of traffic safety measures

implemented in Santa Rosa and come up with recommendations and suggestions that will

benefit the following:

Local Government Unit (LGU). This study assists the local government unit

(LGU) in improving traffic safety measures and promoting safer and more enhance traffic

systems within the municipality of Santa Rosa.

Traffic Management Group (TMG). This study provides valuable insights and

data that will help the TMG to gained additional knowledge on enhancing safety, and

more efficient and effective traffic operations within the municipality of Santa Rosa.

Community. This study will increase public understanding about traffic safety

operations, rules and dangers, which can lead to more cautious behavior on the roads.

Criminology Students. This study is highly beneficial for students pursuing

careers in law enforcement, traffic management, or policy development. Gaining a

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thorough understanding of traffic safety measures and management strategies will

provide a solid foundation for their future careers.

Future Researchers. This study will serve as a valuable reference for future

researchers, offering reliable and relevant data that can be use as a basis to conduct more

comprehensive research or further investigation in traffic safety measures.

Definition of Terms

Accident is an unplanned, unexpected, and often unfortunate event that happens

suddenly and causes harm or damage. It's something that occurs without intention or

foresight, often resulting in injury, loss, or disruption.

Road Safety encompasses all the efforts and measures aimed at preventing

accidents, injuries, and fatalities on roads and highways. It's about creating a safe

environment for everyone who uses the road, from drivers and passengers to pedestrians

and cyclists.

Traffic refers to the movement of people, vehicles, or other things along a road,

pathway, or network. It encompasses the flow of transportation, both on land, water, and

in the air. Think of it as the bustling activity of movement, whether it's cars on a highway

or planes in the sky.

Traffic Accidents also known as road accidents or motor vehicle accidents, are

unplanned and often unexpected events involving vehicles, pedestrians, and/or cyclists

that result in damage, injury, or even death. They occur on roads, highways, and other

transportation networks and are a major public safety concern worldwide.

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 Traffic Operation refers to the management and control of traffic flow on roads,

highways, and other transportation networks. It's about ensuring that traffic moves

smoothly.

Traffic Safety refers to the measures and practices taken to prevent accidents and

injuries on roads and highways. It's about creating a safe environment for everyone who

uses the road, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Traffic safety

implementation. refers to the process of putting traffic safety measures and strategies into

action to achieve a safer transportation system. It's about turning ideas and plans into

tangible actions that make roads safer for everyone.

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 CHAPTER 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter will present the methods that the researchers will utilize in

conducting this research. It presents the research design, research locale, sample and

sampling procedure, data gathering procedure, data gathering instrument, data analysis

technique, and ethical considerations.

Research Design

This study will employ a quantitative descriptive research design to

systematically evaluate the effectiveness of traffic safety measures in Santa Rosa, Nueva

Ecija. According to McCombes (2019), descriptive research aims to accurately and

systematically describe a population, situation or phenomenon. The descriptive research

will allow for a detailed examination of existing traffic safety measures and the impact of

implementing it. This research will employ a descriptive approach to provide an accurate

representation of the current state of traffic safety in the municipality of Santa Rosa.

The study’s primary purpose is to gather and analyze comprehensive data about

the existing traffic safety measures and their observable impacts on road safety

conditions. Through careful data collection, documentation, and analysis of traffic safety

infrastructure and ordinance implementation, this research will present a clear picture of

the effectiveness of current traffic safety measures in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija.

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Research Locale

Figure 2. Map of the setting of the study

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 This study will be conducted in selected barangay in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija

namely: Rizal, Tramo, Burgos, and Lafuente. Santa Rosa is a First-Class municipality

located on the Southwestern part of Nueva Ecija. It is bounded on the North by

Cabanatuan City, on the South by San Leonardo and Penaranda, on the East by Laur, on

the west by Zaragoza, on the south-west by Jaen, and on the south-east by General Tinio.

The economy is mainly based on agriculture, with farming being the main source of

income for the people.

Sample and Sampling Procedure

This study will examine the effectiveness of traffic safety measures implemented

in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, by proposing a comprehensive sample and sampling

procedure for data collection and analysis. Through a multi-stage sampling approach,

purposive sampling technique will be use in this study to gather data from the population

of road users specifically the motorists. According to Bisht (2024), purposive sampling is

a non-randomized sampling technique that selects sampling units based on certain

criteria. Purposive research sampling is a type of non-probability approach in which the

researcher chooses a sample (person, cases, or events) based on their assessment that it

would fit the study’s objectives.

Data Gathering Procedure

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 In order to proceed with the study’s data collection, the researchers will write a

letter to the Dean of the Institute of Criminal Justice Education to request approval and

guidance. The researchers will formulate first the questionnaire that will be use in this

study. The researches will ask permission from the respondents to answer the survey

questionnaire for academic purposes. The questionnaire will be sent to the respondents

around Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. The questionnaire will use rating scales. After

answering all the survey questionnaire, the researcher will collect all the data.

Additionally, the researchers will keep the collected data confidential and processed it

solely for research purposes. The respondents will sign a form to affirm their involvement

in the research.

Data Gathering Instrument

The researcher will utilize a survey questionnaire as a tool for data collection. A

questionnaire consists of a series of questions or items designed to gather information

from respondents regarding their experiences or opinions. It can be employed to collect

both quantitative and qualitative data, making it a commonly used method in this type of

research.

Data Analysis Technique

In order to analyze and interpret the data accurately, the researchers will use the

following statistical tools: Percentage, Weighted Mean, and Likert scale.

Percentage

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 The frequency of each response will be determined in the number of respondents

who will check in the item. The demographic profile will be identified using the formula

of percentage.

Formula: Percentage

F
%= x 100
N

F = frequency

N = total number of respondents

100 = constant value

% = percentage

Weighted Mean

The researchers will use weighted mean to determine the frequency of the data

collected from the respondents. According to the Taylor (2023), weighted mean is

calculated by multiplying the weight of a certain event or outcome by its corresponding

quantitative outcome and then summing the results.

Formula: Weighted Mean

Σ fi Xi
WM=
n

fi = frequency

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 Xi = degree of response

n = number of respondents

Furthermore, the researcher will employ a 4-point Likert Scale to measure

respondents’ attitudes, perceptions, and opinions. This scale allows participants to

indicate their level of satisfaction with specific statements or questions.

Table 2. Likert Scale

Scale Range of Response Verbal Description Verbal Interpretation

4 3.25 – 4.0 Highly Aware The respondents say that
(HA) they are highly aware
about the traffic safety
measure.
Highly Implemented The respondents believe
(HI) that the traffic safety
measures have been fully
and highly implemented.
Highly Effective The respondents believe
(HE) that the traffic safety
measures are highly
effective.
3 2.50 – 3.24 Aware The respondents say that
(A) they are aware about the
traffic safety measure.
Implemented (I) The respondents believe
that the traffic safety
measures have been
somewhat implemented.
Effective (E) The respondents feel that
the traffic safety
measures are effective.
2 1.75 – 2.49 Slightly Aware The respondents say that
(SA) they are slightly aware
about the traffic safety
measure.
Slightly Implemented The respondents feel that
(SI) the traffic safety
measures are slightly
implemented.
Slightly Effective (SE) The respondents feel that

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 the traffic safety
measures are slightly
effective.
1 1.00 – 1.74 Not Aware The respondents say that
(NA) they are not aware about
the traffic safety
measure.
Not Implemented (NI) The respondents indicate
that the traffic safety
measures have not been
properly implemented.
Not Effective (NE) The respondents feel that
the traffic safety
measures are not
effective.

Ethical Considerations

This study will follow the strictest guidelines and principles in writing a research.

Upon conducting this study, the researchers will inform the respondents that their

participation will solely be on a voluntary basis. There will be no harassment or coercion,

and respondents will not be forced or pressured into participating in any way.

Additionally, the questionnaires will be distributed during their free time or breaks to

avoid interfering with their work performance. All data collected from the respondents

will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

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