Influence of Vehicle Inspection Tests on Crashworthiness of School Bus in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The vehicle structure, designs and materials on school bus body crashworthiness as regulated by different government agencies in bus body building firms was the topic under research study. In Kenya, thousands of vehicles are involved in vehicle collisions or crashes every year resulting in fatal accidents and severe injuries to the passengers. The specific objective was the influence of vehicle inspection testson crashworthiness of school bus in Nairobi City County. This study adopted Dym’s, Suh’s Axiomatic theory. The pragmatic paradigm and explanatory research design were used. The target population was 1500 respondents from bus body building firms and government regulatory institutions. The sample size was 315 respondents. Questionnaires, interview schedules and observation were data collection instruments. Expert judgment was used to establish validity of the questionnaires. Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the research instrument.  The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis with the aid of SPSS V22 software. The coefficient of determination (R squared) of .206 showing that 20.6% of the variation in crashworthiness of a bus can be explained by vehicle inspection tests. There was a positive significant influence of vehicle inspection tests on crashworthiness of a bus (β=0.396 and p <0.05). The study concluded that the vehicle inspection tests had a significant influence on the crashworthiness of school bus.  The management of school bus body construction companies need to conduct all the terminal test needed before releasing the vehicle in order to enhance crashworthiness of a bus. The Transport authority should examine and check the mandatory requirements and periodically amend them in accordance with the safety, engineering and ecological standardization.