ABSTRACT
Almost all the persons in the school-going and working age groups have to be on the road at least twice a day in every country. This forces many individuals to use the road even when they are not adequately equipped to do so. These situations would include individuals with any of the following problems:
• Those who unable to concentrate on the road because they have suffered a personal tragedy recently, such as death of a loved one, loss of a job, failure in an important examination, monetary loss. • Those who are disturbed because of problems in personal relationships with a spouse, parent, sibling or close friend. • Persons taking medication or drugs which alter behaviour and perceptual abilities, or those who are under the influence of alcohol. • Children whose cognitive and locomotor abilities make it difficult for them to understand or follow instructions given to them. • Elderly people whose motor and cognitive functions are impaired. • Disabled persons who have to be a part of regular traffic if they have to earn a living. • All psychologically disturbed persons who may not be able to function as desired on the road but who cannot be singled out from participation in traffic. If we add up the total number of individuals who could be
included in these categories on any given day it would amount to a significant proportion of people on the road (say, 20-30 per cent). These individuals cannot always be identified or prevented from using the road space. At the same time it is also a fact that their presence on the road is not out of choice, but a compulsion. In our modern ways of living we have to use products and do things at places and at times which are determined by someone else or by the sodety at large. The same holds true for activity at the work place or even at home. A large number of us have little choice in the design of the home we live in, the design of the tools we use, or the work place where we spend a major part of the day.
