Controlling factors of the parental safety perception on children's travel mode choice

The travel mode of children changed significantly over the last 20 years, with a decrease of children traveling as pedestrians or cyclists. This study focuses on 6-12 year old children. Parents determine to a large extent the mode choice of children in this age category. Based on the analysis of an extensive survey, the research shows that traffic infrastructure has a significant impact on parental decision making concerning children's travel mode choice, by affecting both the real and the perceived traffic safety. Real traffic safety is quantified in terms of numbers of accidents and road infrastructure. For the perceived traffic safety a parental allowance probability is calculated per road type to show that infrastructure characteristics influence parental decision making on the children's mode choice. A binary logistic model shows that this allowance is determined by age, gender and traffic infrastructure near the child's home or near destinations frequently visited by children. Since both real and perceived traffic safety are influenced by infrastructure characteristics, a spatial analysis of parental perception and accident statistics can be used to indicate the locations where infrastructure improvements will be most effective to increase the number of children traveling safely as pedestrians or cyclists.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457511003101
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Nevelsteen, Kristof
  • Steenberghen, Therese
  • Van Rompaey, Anton
  • Uyttersprot, Liesbeth
• Publication Date: 2012-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 39-49
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle lanes; Mode choice; Parents; Pedestrian areas; School children; School trips; Speed zones; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01367579
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 10 2012 3:17PM