CHILDREN'S RESPONSE TO A COMMERCIAL BACK-UP WARNING DEVICE

The objectives were to determine preschool children's response to a commercial back-up warning alarm in a mock setting of an automobile backing up in a preschool parking lot in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. With subjects acting as their own controls, 33 preschoolers were asked to walk behind a stationary vehicle twice. The first time, the control, no warning sound was emitted from the vehicle. The second time, the vehicle was placed in reverse gear triggering an alarm. Children's responses were recorded by a hidden video camera. Avoidance behavior by the child was considered a positive response. Location and distance to where the response occurred was measured. Thirty three children, 38-61 months, were studied. None responded to the alarm with avoidance behavior but 18 looked toward the vehicle or hesitated in their gait. Although over half of the children acknowledged the warning alarm, the device did not elicit avoidance behavior. Mere acknowledgement of the warning device would not prevent injury. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538047
• Corporate Authors:

  BMJ Publishing Group

  BMJ House, Tavistock Square
  London WC1H 9JR,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • SAPIEN, R E
  • WIDMAN ROUX, J
  • FULLERTON-GLEASON, L
• Publication Date: 2003-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 87-8
• Serial:
  • Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1353-8047
  • EISSN: 1475-5785
  • Serial URL: http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Backing (Driving); Behavior; Children; Driving; Infants; Injuries; Parking facilities; Vehicles; Warning systems
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 1243: Car; 916: Car park; 1758: Child; 1768: Infant; 2163: Injury; 1814: Reversing (veh); 8122: USA; 1255: Vehicle; 9113: Warning
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961318
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 13 2003 12:00AM