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Effect of Road Safety Education on Road Risky Behaviors of Spanish Children and Adolescents: Findings from a National Study

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Alonso

    (DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 València, Spain)

  • Cristina Esteban

    (DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 València, Spain)

  • Sergio Useche

    (DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 València, Spain)

  • Natura Colomer

    (DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 València, Spain)

Abstract

Background: Road Safety Education (RSE) is widely known as a reliable determinant of the future results for what concerns health and welfare and as an undisputable factor which contributes to the social behavior of individuals and to their mid- and long-term road safety outcomes. However, its development has been relatively scarce in most countries, a fact which has contributed to letting matters as delicate as traffic crashes, largely explained by road misbehaviors, continue to be a prevalent problem, thus affecting the health of the community. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between demographic and RSE-related variables and the self-reported road risky behavior of Spanish students. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 4062 (51.5% males and 48.5% females) participants attending primary (47.5%), secondary (40.7%), and high school (11.7%) was gathered through a national survey on RSE and road behaviors. Results: A set of significant associations between demographic factors, RSE variables, and self-reported road behaviors was found. Furthermore, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) allowed us to establish that age and observed misbehaviors (positively), and attitudes towards road safety and risk perception (negatively), have a direct link with the road risky behavior of children and young people. The knowledge of traffic rules was not a significant predictor of road behavior. Conclusions: The results of this study show that, together with demographic factors such as age, RSE-related variables have an effect on the road behavior of children and young people. They also suggest the need for strengthening actions to be implemented in road safety (Road Safety Education) at scholar and community levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Alonso & Cristina Esteban & Sergio Useche & Natura Colomer, 2018. "Effect of Road Safety Education on Road Risky Behaviors of Spanish Children and Adolescents: Findings from a National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2828-:d:189869
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Steve O’Hern & Nora Estgfaeller & Amanda N. Stephens & Sergio A. Useche, 2021. "Bicycle Rider Behavior and Crash Involvement in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Francisco Alonso & Sergio A. Useche & Eliseo Valle & Cristina Esteban & Javier Gene-Morales, 2021. "Could Road Safety Education (RSE) Help Parents Protect Children? Examining Their Driving Crashes with Children on Board," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Yasser Amiour & E. O. D. Waygood & Pauline E. W. van den Berg, 2022. "Objective and Perceived Traffic Safety for Children: A Systematic Literature Review of Traffic and Built Environment Characteristics Related to Safe Travel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-29, February.
    4. Mohsen Kalantari & Saeed Zanganeh Shahraki & Bamshad Yaghmaei & Somaye Ghezelbash & Gianluca Ladaga & Luca Salvati, 2021. "Unraveling Urban Form and Collision Risk: The Spatial Distribution of Traffic Accidents in Zanjan, Iran," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Vicente Joaquín Delgado-Fernández & María del Carmen Rey-Merchán & Antonio López-Arquillos & Sang D. Choi, 2022. "Occupational Traffic Accidents among Teachers in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-9, April.
    6. Francisco Alonso & Adela Gonzalez-Marin & Cristina Esteban & Sergio A. Useche, 2020. "Behavioral Health at School: Do Three Competences in Road Safety Education Impact the Protective Road Behaviors of Spanish Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Kefan Xie & Zimei Liu, 2019. "Factors Influencing Escalator-Related Incidents in China: A Systematic Analysis Using ISM-DEMATEL Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Mingyu Hou & Jianchuan Cheng & Feng Xiao & Chenzhu Wang, 2021. "Distracted Behavior of Pedestrians While Crossing Street: A Case Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-19, January.

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