In this report the first evaluation study of the traffic education curriculum of the city of the hague is described. The purpose of the evaluation was to investigate how the programme is used by the teachers and whether the presentation of the programme resulted in an increase in traffic knowledge. A questionnaire was distributed amongst teachers to obtain information about the acceptance and use of the programme. The effects of the programme were assessed using a traffic behaviour test, administered in the normal traffic situation, and using a traffic knowledge test consisting of multiple choice photograph items. The behaviour test consisted of observation of crossing behaviour in a situation with parked cars and at a junction. The results demonstrate that the programme was used by approximately 65% of the schools and was evaluated positively by the majority of teachers. The behavioural aspects of the programme (i.e. road crossing) generally received considerable attention, but lessons which require outdoor teaching activities are carried out only infrequently. Most teachers do not have explicit expectations concerning the effect of the programme on the traffic behaviour of the pupils. Both the crossing behaviour and the traffic knowledge shows improvement following the presentation of the programme. However, the performance level is still low at the end of the school year. This is particularly true for the behaviour at junctions and when there is approaching traffic. Differences in use of the programme do not appear to have a demonstrable effect on the improvement of the traffic behaviour and knowledge. (Author/publisher)
Abstract