Child pedestrians: the role of parental beliefs and practices in promoting safe walking in urban neighborhoods.
The purpose of this study was to describe parents' child pedestrian safety practices, knowledge, risk perceptions, and beliefs. We surveyed 732 parents from four elementary schools in urban neighborhoods that differed in income, and child pedestrian injury risks. Findings indicated that most parents taught their children street safety. Few (16%) knew basic pedestrian safety facts; 46% believed children younger than 10 years could safely cross streets alone; 50% believed a child pedestrian crash was likely. Parents in lower income neighborhoods reported the highest rates of unpleasant walking environments and concerns about drug dealers, crime, violence, and trash. We conclude that education should focus on children's risk, developmental capabilities, and supervision needs. Promoting physical activity in urban neighborhoods, especially lower income ones, must address concerns about the physical and social environment.
ScM, CHES, Center for Injury and Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. agielen@jhsph.edu.
Andrea Carlson
AC
Gielen
Susan
S
Defrancesco
David
D
Bishai
Patricia
P
Mahoney
Shiu
S
Ho
Bernard
B
Guyer
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015142:Baltimore; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking