SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BASED ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Public transportation poses a higher risk of safety and security since there happen to be more passengers in one car. The problem becomes worse in developing countries, because of the lack of suitable and integrated approaches. The aim of this research is to explore the perception of safety and security problems on the part of those parties involved in the operation of public transportation. This perception is used as a base to develop an improvement agenda for the particular context of developing countries. The research employs a questionnaire survey to collect the perception data. This paper explains the perception of users and drivers of paratransit as well as that of non-users and civil servants, concerning safety and security of paratransit in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. The rank of importance for each factor is analyzed by applying the factor analysis. Analysis shows that the user is the most important party involved. The understanding and awareness of the user (including the driver) is the most important variable to improve the condition. Three aspects of an improvement agenda are proposed based on the perception data, namely technology, management, and institution. This agenda is clarified by a set of action plans incorporating the responsible parties and a time frame. The action plan is divided into three terms to define a clear goal for each step. The short-term action focuses on the hardware and on preparing further steps, whereas the medium-term action focuses on developing and improving the standard of safety and security. The long-term action focuses on advancing safety and security practices. The effectiveness of this agenda and action plan rests upon a set of assumptions, such as the degree of seriousness from the authoritative institution, fair distribution of information, the availability of reasonable resources, and coordinated and collaborative action from all parties involved to reach the objective. Document type: Articl

A User Perception Model Concerning Safety and Security of Paratransit Services in Bandung, Indonesia

Safety and security in public transportation, Angkutan Kota or paratransit included, are among the commonly poor aspects in Indonesia. The objective of this research is to describe user perception of safety and security aspects in paratransit operation and to develop a model to predict and explain user choice in the future when there is an improvement. Users stated that the conditions of safety and security could be categorized as fair to dangerous. Realizing the condition, users still want to use paratransit because they have no other mode and paratransit can easily be found. The main reason for safety problems was the low degree of awareness of the driver in operating the car, while the main reason for security problems was the low degree of law enforcement and limited number of policemen (security officers). Users stated that the most responsible stakeholder in safety and security was the operator (driver and owner) and the police. Each aspect has two models using binomial logistic regression, namely a model with and without experience of accidents or criminal incidents. All models seem quite appropriate ones, as shown by their statistical measurement. Incorporating user experience improved the model fitness and improved the model in describing traveler characteristics

Protecting the health of health care workers : a global perspective

"Fundamental elements for the provision, organization, and establishment of occupational health and safety (OHS) services for health care workers in rural/remote areas and developing countries include adequate resources, a strong safety culture, recognition of occupational health professionals, collaborative practice, and capability for communication and local risk analysis. First, however, assessment of existing OHS services is required. Adaptable needs assessment tools designed for use by local health care workers should allow progression from analysis to action. Essential elements of these tools include utility, recognition of the surrounding political, health care, and physical environments, and clear definition of the roles and responsibilities of users to act upon findings and implement solutions. Securing adequate financial, physical, and human resources for occupational health and safety requires critical analysis of topics such as health care culture, political motivation, health care worker migration, and national and international financing. It is necessary to reshape attitudes towards valuing the health of health care workers. This includes acknowledging occupational health professional accreditation and educating health care students about OHS. It is also crucial to create awareness of workers' health among health care managers and administrators and to develop their knowledge and capability to support OHS. Resources such as the Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO) document "Workers' Health and Safety in the Health Sector: A Manual for Managers and Administrators" are valuable assets. Suggestions for collaborative practice include the formation and use of local OHS committees that involve decision makers, administrators, and health care workers. Communication strategies involve the free flow of information between policy makers, educators, employers, research laboratories, and health care workers. Mobile occupational health clinics and portable libraries are two examples of innovative methods of communication and information dissemination. Risk analyses allow occupational health practitioners to target local services to the most needed areas. Point prevalence surveys and workplace audit tools are effective methods to collect this data in remote and resource poor settings. Priorities for prevention of blood-borne and air-borne disease transmission include education and comprehensive protocols and guidelines. Adequate, up-to-date, and ongoing OHS education and training for health care workers is essential. Protocols and guidelines should direct practice and uphold internationally endorsed standards while being responsive to local realities and needs. Protocol and guideline development and implementation must also involve the multiple stakeholder groups such as infection control, public health, funders, administrators, and health care workers. Immunizations and adequate access to post exposure management are vital for secondary prevention. Information such as prevalence and incidence rates of diseases endemic to the local area, transmission patterns and trends, and population projections are necessary to make informed decisions about vaccination priorities. Adequate institutional support for post exposure prophylaxis and follow-up consultations is also vital to ensure the quality of appropriate care following workrelated injuries. " - NIOSHTIC-2Publication authors, contributors, and workshop participants -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Workshop overview -- Introduction -- Section One: Organization and provision of occupational health services in health care -- Section Two: Establishing occupational health programs -- Section Three: Primary prevention for blood-borne and air-borne pathogens -- Section Four: Immunizations and post exposure follow-up -- Concluding remarks -- Appendix A: Workshop agendaRebman, R., (Ed.). Rodri\ucc?guez Guzma\ucc?n, J.; Dybka, L.; Watson, R.; Lavoie, M.; Yassi, A.; Gamage, B.; Pugh, S.; Lehtinen, S.; Tennassee, M.; Nophale, L.E. (2008)."This synthesis report stems from a one-day pre-conference workshop, "Occupational Health Services for Health Care Workers in Rural/Remote Areas and Developing Countries." The workshop was part of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) Conference on Health Care Worker Health / 2007 State-of-the-Art Conference (SOTAC) held from 26 to 28 October 2007 in Vancouver, Canada. For this conference, ICOH and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) joined together to share research and understanding on protecting the health of health care workers." - p. 1"February 2009."Also available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (956.69 KB, 58 p.).Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48)

Enhancing passenger safety and security in Ghana: Appraising public transport operators’ recent interventions

There are increasing calls for regular monitoring and evaluation of safety and security strategies of public transport (PT) operators, especially in developing countries where PT safety and security concerns abound. In respect of this, this study examined the passenger safety and security interventions of PT operators in Ghana. Both the accident-incident theory and routine activities theory served as the theoretical framework within which the study was rooted. Guided by the convergent parallel mixed methods design, data were drawn from in-depth interviews with six major intercity PT operators as well as questionnaires administered to 273 intercity PT passengers. The field data were analysed using both thematic (qualitative data) and correlational (quantitative data) analyses in line with the study design. Varied perspectives on the state of PT passenger safety and security in the country were expressed, and operators’ interventions in this regard were appraised. The study emphasised the need for periodic review of the regulatory framework establishing public transport undertaking by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to reflect changing safety and security circumstances.Keywords: Public transport operators; passenger safety; security; interventions; Ghan

Motorcycle Riders’ Perception of the Characteristics of Paratransit In Medan, Indonesia

In developing countries, the uncontrolled rise of private vehicle ownership, such as motorcycles, constitutes a great deal of air pollution in the city. While the motorcycle is quite convenient, public transport lacks many qualities, and for some cities, like Medan, they are limited to paratransit. This study aims to reach an understanding of motorcycle riders’ perception of the existing paratransit and its relation to their reasoning to choose the two-wheelers daily. We utilized a structured questionnaire and interviewed 456 daily-commuting riders to assess 13 service aspects of the existing paratransit and their primary reason for using a motorcycle. Our findings suggest that riders collectively agree that affordable fare, easy to find, and short walking distance are the best trait of the existing public transport in Medan. Meanwhile, travel time, time-availability, and hygienic issues are reported to be the most hindering aspects. This perspective is consistent with riders’ reasoning behind their mode choice, which is based primarily on time efficiency. This research highlights the comparison of riders’ need in commuting and their opinion about the existing paratransit. While it is yet interesting to learn how those aspects weigh in with each other, the result of this study still offers prudent recommendations in developing mode-shifting strategic policies to encourage more public transportation use in Medan city

Policies for promoting agricultural development. Report of a Conference on Productivity and Innovation in Agriculture in the Underdeveloped Countries / David Hapgood, Editor ; Max F. Millikan, Conference Chairman

Conference held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Endicott House, Dedham, Massachusetts, June 29 through August 7, 1964Conference financed by A.E.D"1514"--handwritten on cove

INVESTIGATING ICT SOLUTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT IN THE FREE STATE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

ThesisInefficiencies in the public transportation system in the Free State province resulting in poor quality public transportation has led to the investigation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions to improve the system, through integration, and the challenges and opportunities that may result from this integration. This research investigates ICT solutions for public transportation improvement focusing on the challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders of the public transportation system. Critical review of South African legislation and policies on public transportation and ICT was carried out. This was to review government laws and policies governing public transportation development. It also reviewed how the government planned on improving public transportation, developments so far based on those plans and future plans, and how these legislations by the government have been carried out in the Free State province. A theoretical framework was developed to lay out expectations for the integration process including the adoption of technologies and adaptations to the new integrated public transportation system based on technology acceptance and diffusion theories. Questionnaire and Interview surveys were carried out on public transportation vehicle owners, drivers, public transportation users and non-users to assess the current state of public transportation, their needs that could potentially be solved by ICT and the challenges likely to be faced. The use of questionnaires was also to assist in identifying and defining elements needed for successful integration of ICT into the system. ICT experts, transportation planners, academics, public transportation owners and users were also interviewed to gain more understanding and insight on ICT solutions, the public transportation systems, technologies for potential use in the public transportation system and challenges that may arise due to integration

Public Attitude to Urban Public Transportation Services in Jember, Indonesia

In this current condition, people’s interest in using public transportation in Jember is decreasing with a low load factor value below 50%. It can be caused by the quality of services provided by service providers to the satisfaction of public transport users. Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) method is used to determine the level of satisfaction of public transport users in Jember District. The satisfaction level of public transport users is obtained from several attributes that belong to the Cartesian diagram. The attributes that need improvement are the punctuality of the services, providing a sense of security and comfort and first aid facilities. The user's willingness to pay is Rp.4,000.00 - Rp.5,000.00. Directions for future studies are presented

Determinants of government consumption expenditure in developing countries : a panel data analysis

The paper focuses on the recent pattern of government consumption expenditure in developing countries and estimates the determinants which have influenced government expenditure. Using a panel data set for 111 developing countries from 1984 to 2004, this study finds evidence that political and institutional variables as well as governance variables significantly influence government expenditure. Among other results, the paper finds new evidence of Wagner's law which states that peoples' demand for service and willingness to pay is income-elastic hence the expansion of public economy is influenced by the greater economic affluence of a nation (Cameron1978). Corruption is found to be influential in explaining the public expenditure of developing countries. On the contrary, size of the economy and fractionalization are found to have significant negative association with government expenditure. In addition, the study finds evidence that public expenditure significantly shrinks under military dictatorship compared with other form of governance.Developing countries, Public expenditures, Corruption, Government expenditure, Fractionalization, Governance, Political institutions and Extreme bound analysis