THIS DISCUSSION PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR AN OECD WORKSHOP ON TRAINING OBJECTIVES FOR CHILD PEDESTRIANS. IT BEGINS BY QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR SUCH OBJECTIVES, GIVEN THE PAUCITY OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL MEASURES AND THE METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF OBTAINING THIS EVIDENCE. IT IS ARGUED THAT SAFETY EDUCATION SHOULD BE SEEN AS AN ACT OF FAITH, THOUGH ONE THAT IS WIDELY HELD TO BE BOTH DESIRABLE AND NECESSARY. THE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO IDENTIFY TRAINING OBJECTIVES ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THREE LONG ESTABLISHED PRECEPTS OF CHILD PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NO SIMPLE OR UNIVERSAL RECIPE, AND THAT IT IS MORE REALISTIC TO ACCEPT THAT TRAINING OBJECTIVES ARE DEFINED RATHER THAN IDENTIFIED BY DILIGENT RESEARCH.(Author/publisher).
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