Child in traffic |
2012 |
| It is important from a developmental viewpoint that a child may move safely in his/her immediate environment. To ensure this, both protection and guidance are needed.
Children can be protected by planning the traffic environment in such a way that it is safe for children; in addition, one must make sure that children use appropriate safety equipment. Furthermore, special attention should be given to children’s traffic education and communication - targeted at all road-users - regarding children’s qualities and behaviour in traffic. Traffic accidents are the single greatest cause of children’s accidental deaths. Children’s abilities A child’s field of vision is narrower than that of an adult; therefore, it is more difficult for a child to observe complex traffic situations correctly. It may be |
difficult for a child to hear where the sound of the car is coming from. A child is also hard pressed to estimate correctly how far an approaching car is and how fast it is travelling. As children are shorter than adults, seeing over parked cars, for instance, poses a problem. Similarly, a car driver may not see the child in between cars and bushes. Furthermore, traffic terms and symbols are often times too difficult to comprehend for a child.
Children play and are impulsive also in traffic. Attention may suddenly fix on a friend, for example, and traffic is forgotten for an instant as the child runs directly onto the road. As children lack the appropriate experience, they have no clear understanding of the dangers of traffic. Children often rely too much e.g. on drivers’ ability to stop in time. |
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| Local issues key in traffic education The central principles of traffic education are locality, functionality and continuity. A child learns from the model his/her parents provide. Parents should go over the child’s travel routes together with the child and make sure that the child does not travel alone in an environment where he/she can not cope yet. The traffic education given by day-care and school supports the effort of the parents and adds continuity to it. Environment solutions |
immediate environment. Even if new residential areas are planned to be as safe as possible, it may turn out that the needs of children are not taken into consideration to a sufficient degree. Also, children’s safety can be improved in existing, already constructed areas. For instance, the location of zebra crossings, playgrounds and parking areas can be changed. In addition, light traffic lanes can be built, speed limits can be reduced and sight obstructions can be removed.
The environmental hazards of traffic should also be paid attention to, since children are especially vulnerable to traffic emissions. Everyone can influence the safety of one’s own neighbourhood. As defects or shortcomings are observed, one should contact the municipal technical administration. An environment that is safe for children is enjoyable for others as well. |
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