Abstract
This study aims to enlargement of safety promotion system development in the school buses at rural areas of Chiang Rai province in the 4 districts. Study population are 408 school bus drivers. Implemented activities and data collection was concurrently done in two periods of time. Questionnaires, focus group discussion and behavioral surveillance are used at the first period. Activities including physical check-up, meeting, school bus check-up for developing the school bus safety system were conducted at the second period. Results Most of school bus drivers were male (86.4%). Mean age was 41.6 years.59.8% of them were primary school education level background and 27.9% were juniors high school. 9.9% of them were smokers, 1.6% were drinkers About half of them (56.8%) had annually physical check-up and 12.4% had health problem. Fifty-five percents of school buses were pickup truck and 34.8% were van. Most of drivers have their own school buses and had 4.9 years (median) driving experience. Thirty percents of school bus (roof, seats) were modified and each school bus was used for transferred students in one school. Most of passengers were junior high school students (85.75%). The capacity building that related to traffic law, ethical and primary health care was developed and found that the school bus accidents were decreased when compared to the previous period. Conclusion The promotion of school bus safety and the collaboration of governments organization, school bus driver association and school bus network led to declination of traffic accidents.
