This study looked at the vulnerability of children and young people as road users, with a view to exploring the way parents influence children and young people aged 0 - 16 years to be safer road users. Accident statistics and epidemiology of child road traffic accidents and previous research are outlined. The methodology is summarised including the location, the children and young people's perspective, and the parent's perspective. The findings are described in detail covering issues such as pedestrian activity, different types of behaviour with different modes of transport, children's and young people's approaches to different strategies such as draw and write, focus group discussions, and drama workshops. The parent's perspective covers focus group discussions, perceptions of risk, strategies used to influence children's and young people's behaviour including behaviour with different modes of transport. Results of the survey are provided. The synthesis and discussion focuses on the perception of risk, how parents enable children to cope with risk, the responsibility for providing road safety education, and scope for improvement. Specific issues such as urban/rural differences, car ownership, gender and ethnicity and support for parents are addressed. Conclusions and recommendations look at implications for policy and practice with recommendations for further research. (Author/publisher) The full text of this document may be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/no102safetyre…
Abstract