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. 2019 Dec:244:57-62.
doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.06.015. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

Interactive Education is Associated With Lower Incidence of Pedestrian-Related Injury in Children

Cory M McLaughlin  1 , Wesley E Barry  2 , Erica N Barin  1 , Melissa Mert  3 , Chantel Lowery  4 , Jeffrey S Upperman  2 , Aaron R Jensen  5 , Helen Arbogast  4
Affiliations

Interactive Education is Associated With Lower Incidence of Pedestrian-Related Injury in Children

Cory M McLaughlin et al. J Surg Res. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Pedestrian-related injuries are a significant contributor to preventable mortality and disability in children. We hypothesized that interactive pedestrian safety education is associated with increased knowledge, safe crosswalk behaviors, and lower incidence of pedestrian-related injuries in elementary school-aged children.

Methods: An interactive street-crossing simulation was implemented at target elementary schools in Los Angeles County beginning in 2009. Mixed-methods were used to evaluate the impact of this intervention. Multiple-choice examinations were used to test pedestrian safety knowledge, anonymous observations were used to assess street-crossing behaviors, and statewide traffic records were used to report pedestrian injuries in elementary school-aged (4-11 y) children in participating school districts. Pedestrian injury incidence was compared 1 y before and after the intervention, standardized to the incidence in the entire City of Los Angeles.

Results: A total of 1424 and 1522 children completed the pretest and post-test, respectively. Correct answers increased for nine of ten questions (all P < 0.01). Children more frequently looked both ways before crossing the street after the intervention (10% versus 41%, P < 0.001). There were 6 reported pedestrian-related injuries in intervention school districts in the year before the intervention and 2 injuries in the year after the intervention, resulting in a significantly lower injury incidence (standardized rate ratio 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.73).

Conclusion: Pedestrian safety education at Los Angeles elementary schools was associated with increased knowledge, safe street-crossing behavior, and lower incidence of pediatric pedestrian-related injury. Formal pedestrian safety education should be considered with injury prevention efforts in similar urban communities.

Keywords: Crosswalk; Injury prevention; Pedestrian; Pediatric; Safety; Street.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photo of Los Angeles Street Smarts interactive set used for pedestrian safety educational intervention.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Annual pedestrian-related injuries in the entire City of Los Angeles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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