Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 1 (2025)

Comprehension of Traffic Signs among Aeta Motorists: From Challenges to Solutions

Clariza Buay Inong

Discipline: social sciences (non-specific)

 

Abstract:

Traffic signs are vital for ensuring motorists safety on the road, but their effectiveness relies on drivers comprehending their meaning and demonstrating the appropriate actions. This study investigated the traffic sign comprehension of 324 Aeta respondents using a three-part questionnaire: a survey on respondents’ agreement with traffic sign meanings and actions, a matching test to identify traffic sign names, both using convenience sampling, and an interview using pur-posive sampling. The researcher utilized a convergent parallel mixed method design, examining quantitative data with descriptive statis-tics and qualitative data with thematic analysis. The key findings in-dicate that the overall traffic sign comprehension mean score of the respondents was 3.35, interpreted as “Average,” suggesting a general understanding of traffic signs with room for improvement in specific areas. The data also reveals that the most correctly identified signs in the matching test were those reinforced with both verbal and non-verbal elements and those frequently encountered, such as the in-formative sign “Slow Vehicles Use Right Lane” (49.4 %), the warning sign “Slippery When Wet” (47.8%), the regulatory sign “Stop Sign” (66.0%) and the road marking “Single Solid Yellow Line” (46.6%). Most Aeta motorists began driving at a young age without formal training, mostly learning through observations and guidance from family and relatives, leading to misunderstandings of traffic signs. In-terviews highlighted that financial difficulties, lack of resources, and illiteracy prevent many Aeta motorists from obtaining driver’s li-censes and vehicle registrations. Additionally, they often face preju-dice and discrimination, being unfairly blamed for motor vehicle acci-dents. These findings emphasize the importance of specialized educa-tional initiatives and culturally appropriate driving instruction to pro-mote traffic sign literacy among Aeta motorists. Proposed initiatives include the development of simple, engaging materials, such as a tri-fold brochure containing locally translated traffic sign names, explanations of Kapampangan language, and pictures. Other recom-mendations include free or subsidized driver education courses and improved traffic signs combining verbal and non-verbal elements to enhance comprehension.



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