Road accidents are a major and growing cause of death and injury to children in developing and transition countries. Typically, twice as many pedestrians are killed in road accidents in these countries compared with European countries and USA and a high proportion of these accidents involve children of school age. One reason why these accidents happen is that children do not have the necessary knowledge and skills that allow them to deal with the hostile traffic environment. Receiving road safety education as part of their normal school curriculum is recognized as being one of the most effective ways of providing children with this type of knowledge. Therefore road safety education deserves to be given much more of a priority in developing and transition countries. Importantly, research has demonstrated that it can be highly effective when some principles of good practice are followed. However, to produce best results, the program should be supported by other road safety measures: driver training, providing safe crossing places and enforcing safe driver behaviour. (Author/publisher)
Abstract