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Relations between temperamental fear and risky pedestrian behavior
Jiabin Shen1, Leslie A McClure2, David C Schwebel1
1Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|April 28, 2015
Summary
Temperamental fear increases children's risk of pedestrian injury. Fearful children hesitate before crossing, leading to dangerous gaps with oncoming traffic, especially for girls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric safety
- Developmental psychology
- Traffic injury prevention
Background:
- Child pedestrian injuries are a major global public health concern.
- Understanding the psychological factors contributing to risky pedestrian behavior is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between temperamental fear and children's risky pedestrian behaviors.
- To explore the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship, such as delayed entry into traffic and time to contact with vehicles.
Main Methods:
- 240 seven- and eight-year-old children participated in a virtual reality pedestrian environment, completing 30 simulated crossings.
- Key behaviors measured included start gap, time to contact (TTC), and vehicle collisions (hits).
- Temperamental fear was assessed using parent-reported questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Children with higher temperamental fear exhibited more risky pedestrian behaviors, including being struck by virtual vehicles.
- The association between fear and risky behavior was mediated by start gap and TTC.
- Fearful children hesitated longer before crossing, resulting in reduced gaps with oncoming traffic, increasing collision risk. Gender moderated this effect, with fearful girls being most vulnerable.
Conclusions:
- Temperamental fear and gender significantly influence the risk of child pedestrian injuries.
- Delayed initiation of crossing and reduced time to contact with vehicles appear to be key mediating factors.
- Further research is needed to integrate these findings into effective child pedestrian safety programs.
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