Final Report: Strengthening Community Research in ... - Ninti One

Question 9: The Car You Drive Is Always Roadworthy?The survey results provided a profile snapshot of Ntaria residents’ attitudes to aspects of driving and road safety. Carsplay a significant part in the daily life of many Ntaria residents, whether they drive or not. Cars represent the only accessto various homelands around Ntaria, for movement around the community itself – including to shop, health centres,friends, or work place – or to Alice Springs for regional services not available locally. Complex negotiations occur inrelation to driving or being a passenger in a car and significant time is spent getting cars running for these purposes andto attend other less frequent events such as sports weekends in regional communities, sports, recreational and socialevents in town, funerals and other significant meetings.The survey showed that 23% of respondents seldom or never drive. Of those who do drive, 35% felt they could drivemore safely than they always do. Everybody surveyed reported that they would drive unsafely in certain circumstances(see below), although 22% do not drive unsafe otherwise. A large majority (89%) undertake regular safety checks ontheir vehicles.The study indicated a willingness of residents to drive unsafe vehicles in certain circumstances. It showed that 52% ofrespondents would sometimes or always drive when conditions are unsafe and 24% of respondents acknowledged thatthey would drive unsafe when necessary; this includes in response to a family emergency or perceived crisis, to attendan important meeting or treatment, or in the event of risk or perceived risk to personal safety.The road from Ntaria to Alice Springs is bitumen sealed, and, although subject to a speed limit of 110 kmph, it isfrequently travelled at higher speeds by all road users (Hermannsburg Police, pers. comm.). Two significant accidentsaffecting Ntaria have occurred on this road in the last five years, claiming a total of eight lives.The Aboriginal Land Trust is prescribed as a no alcohol zone, and the boundary of the land trust is 50 kms from thecommunity. At times the boundary is a popular place for enjoying alcohol, but it presents a real problem for drivingsafely. Buses and cars are not available to transport people where they might need to go.Just over half of respondents (58%) understood that alcohol affects driving after two drinks or immediately, where42% felt alcohol only affected their driving when they had had more than three drinks, or had drunk for more than twohours, or that they were only affected when they felt really drunk.Results indicated that roadworthiness was considered a benchmark of sorts related to vehicle safety, but registration isconsidered a benchmark for legal driving. From survey responses it was clear that over half of the respondentsunderstood that the condition of a vehicle might be below a roadworthy standard, but did not necessarily consider thata barrier to use of the vehicle.Final Report: Strengthening Community Research in Remote Service Delivery at Ntaria 39