Part A: Various empirical tests yielded the following results. A large proportion of children in the 4 to 5 age group cross streets quickly and without prior self orientation. Children in the 6 to 7 age group orientate themselves at the kerbside but frequently run across the road without further regard to traffic safety. In traffic games 4 to 5 year olds distinguished themselves quite definitely from other age groups in their spontaneous observance of traffic light signals (18%). Other statistics relating to the observance of traffic light signals are 64% for the 6 to 7 age group and 78% for the 8 to 9 age group. The greater proportion of children studied chose the quickest route towards attaining their goal. 68% of the children in the 6 to 7 age group automatically chose the safest route whereas the corresponding statistic for the 8 to 9 age group was 92%. Additional experiments dealt with the study of the following: empathy capacity, simulated street crossing, the comprehension of certain traffic situations, the traffic awareness of mothers, secondary considerations of a social and ecological nature, difficulties and emphasis on techniques relevant to traffic education. Part B of the study is divided into the following sections: (1) the behaviour of children in road traffic; (2) the briefing of children in road traffic (the results of present experiments for training children. The development of the siegener traffic test; (3) traffic education (previous and personal assessments); (4) briefing and behaviour (study of random tests, the effects of various patterns of traffic education).
Samenvatting