Identification and Feasibility Test of Specialized Rural Pedestrian Safety Training. Volume 1, Program Development and Evaluation
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Summary
This report details the development and evaluation of PEDSAFE, a K-12 pedestrian safety curriculum designed specifically for suburban and rural schools. The project was motivated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recognition that while urban pedestrian safety programs existed, rural and suburban children faced distinct accident risks, including walking along roadways and navigating school bus zones. The primary objectives were to identify accident types amenable to training countermeasures, develop targeted training programs, and field-test these programs to assess administrative feasibility and behavioral outcomes. The PEDSAFE curriculum was structured into three components: an Elementary Program (Kindergarten through sixth grade), an On-Bus Program, and a Junior/Senior High School Program. The Elementary and On-Bus programs focused on skills training for four specific pedestrian situations: midblock crossing, intersection crossing, walking along the roadway, and movement near school buses. These programs utilized Accident-Avoidance Behavior Sequences (AABS) to train safe behaviors, employing active involvement, audiovisuals, and integration with existing school activities to minimize instructional time. The Junior/Senior High School program consisted of five units integrated into standard subjects to teach general safety principles and reinforce prior learning. Materials were developed based on instructional technology guidelines and reviewed by educational psychologists and teachers to ensure developmental appropriateness. Field testing was conducted across several Pennsylvania school districts using a before-after design with control groups. The Elementary and On-Bus programs were evaluated through formal tests and observational data collected in neighborhoods and on school buses. The Junior/Senior High School program was evaluated using knowledge gain assessments. The results demonstrated statistically significant reductions in unsafe pedestrian behaviors for the Elementary and On-Bus Programs. Similarly, the Junior/Senior High School Program yielded statistically significant gains in pedestrian safety knowledge across all five units. The study concludes that specialized training is an effective countermeasure for reducing pedestrian accidents among suburban and rural children. The PEDSAFE curriculum successfully addressed the unique causal elements of rural accident types, particularly those involving school buses and roadway walking. The findings support the feasibility of implementing such training in school settings, suggesting that targeted behavioral training can significantly improve safety outcomes where public information messages alone may be insufficient. The report provides revised materials and recommendations for further development and potential widespread distribution.
Key finding
Statistically significant reductions in unsafe pedestrian behavior were observed in the Elementary and On-Bus Programs, while the Junior/Senior High School Program produced statistically significant gains in pedestrian safety knowledge.
Methodology
field_study
Sample size: 200
Provenance
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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.
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- Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation