The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of in-school, on-bicycle safety training programs for children. The present study also utilized surrogate measures including knowledge tests and reported behaviors, as well as self-reports of crashes and injuries. Another aim of the present study was to identify the most effective methods of teaching children safe on-street riding knowledge and skills, in particular to compare results of programs using closed-course instruction on school grounds with those using on-street riding instruction. Since the nine to 12 year age group is targeted for teaching more extensive on-street riding knowledge and skills identified by the National Curriculum, and this age group is felt to be developmentally ready for learning on-street riding skills, the age group targeted by this study was predominantly 4th to 5th grade students. Only programs that included an on-bicycle training component were included in the study, and, furthermore, only programs that involved more than one encounter with students were included. Two programs each that used on-road bicycle training, and two that used closed-course training on the school grounds were studied. The programs varied in the amount of in-classroom instruction from none to approximately four hours. (Author/publisher)
Abstract