WalkSafe: A School-Based Pedestrian Safety Intervention Program

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the WalkSafe program, an elementary school-based pedestrian safety program in a single high-risk district in Miami-Dade County.Methods: Sixteen elementary schools were identified in a single high-risk district and enrolled in a one-year study. All schools implemented the WalkSafe program on the last week of January 2003. A pre, post, and three-month post testing of pedestrian safety knowledge was conducted. An observational component was also implemented at four schools that were randomly chosen. Engineering recommendations and law enforcement initiatives were also performed.Results: A total of 6467 children from K-5th grade from 16 elementary schools participated in the program. Of these 5762 tests were collected over three different testing times. A significant difference (p-value < 0.001) was found between the pre and post testing conditions across all grade levels. There was no significant difference found between the post and three-month post testing conditions across all grade levels (p-value > 0.05). The observational data collected at four schools across the different testing times demonstrated a significant difference found between pre and post testing conditions for Group A (stop at the curb and look left, right, left) and also for Group B (midstreet crossing and darting out) (p-value < 0.05). There was no difference found between comparing the pre-test or post-test condition with the three-month post-test time. There were many environmental modifications that were recommended and actually performed.Conclusion: The WalkSafe program implemented in a single high-risk district was shown to improve the pedestrian safety knowledge of elementary school children. The observational data demonstrated improved crossing behaviors from pre-test to post-testing conditions. Future research will focus on sustaining the program in this district and expanding the program throughout our county.Each year in the United States approximately 25,000 children 0-15 years of age are struck by motor vehicles. This accounts for 22% of total injury by this population (NCSA, 2000). According to the U.S Department of Transportation for 2000, the age groups with the highest percentages of pedestrian injury are the elderly population older than 59 years (10%) and the children less than 16 years (30%); this accounts for 24,000 pedestrians injured. The 5-9 age group accounted for 50% of the total children pedestrians injured in this population and 30% of the fatalities. Most school-age pedestrians are killed in the afternoon rather than the morning, with 42% of the fatalities occurring in crashes

O pediatra e a segurança no trânsito

“…1,32 If we know the ages and skill acquisition of children, the application of prevention measures becomes easier.…”

“…The reduction in the number of traffic accidents, and consequently in the number of deaths and injured individuals, is still a challenge 1,32,33 and, for enhanced efficiency, some aspects should be emphasized:…”

“…Measures such as parking prohibition and strategies for speed reduction enhance pedestrian visibility and considerably reduce vehicle-pedestrian collisions. 31,32 Initiatives to motivate walking and cycling habits help implement the effective measures and should be a priority in residential neighborhoods. 1,27,33,34 Other measures, such as the creation of student brigades to help control vehicle flow at school hours have been highly successful in short-term reduction of accidents involving personal injury and in raising the awareness of students regarding traffic safety.…”

Helmets Matter: Kentucky Motorcycle Crash Victims Seen at a Tennessee Trauma Center

“…Improvements were more consistent for grades K-3 than for 4 and 5. Actual in-traffic behaviors were also reportedly improved in the short term, but did not hold up at 3 months after the program, and no comparison group was used (Hotz et al, 2004;Hotz et al, 2009). Barton, Schwebel, and Morrongiello (2007) also reported that children crossed a road more safely immediately following a brief pedestrian safety training that included instruction followed by practice crossings on a pretend road.…”

Promoting booster seat use for young children: A school-based intervention pilot study

“…A recent study found a preschool education program effective in improving appropriate restraint use among 3-to 5-year-old children, while a multifaceted community approach which included a school intervention also improved restraint use (21,22). Similarly, schoolbased interventions have been successful with safety topics including water and pedestrian safety (19,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”