Education

Research indicates that 60 percent of car-bicycle collisions occur among cyclists between the ages of 8 and 12. Most of these collisions result from the cyclist's failure to use proper riding techniques in a hazardous situation. Ironically, when asked 95 percent of children harmed in traffic (pedestrian or cyclist) could describe the actual law they broke.

Despite the overwhelming number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities to children, studies show that an average of only one dollar is spent per child between birth and 15 years of age teaching traffic safety. Children are permitted to travel through their neighborhoods with only a "look both ways before you cross the street" and a "make sure you stop at all stop signs." These "warnings” are just not enough.

Each year, hundreds of children are injured or killed as bicyclists in Canada. It is the unpredictable behaviour of children and their lack of competence in traffic that leads to over 90 percent of traffic-related injuries.

Bicycling falls and collisions are a major and growing problem among young people. Nationwide, more than 50,000 bicycle-related injuries occur each year. About 100 result in fatalities - more than half of those killed are under 16 years old. The vast majority of these casualties are caused by unsafe riding practices.

"Accidents" are No Accident

Everywhere in Saskatchewan one sees examples of dangerous cycling practices:

Not looking for traffic when leaving a driveway
Riding on the left side of the street
Swerving in front of overtaking traffic when turning
Not stopping at stop signs
Riding on sidewalks
Riding "double" on a single bike.

These dangerous behaviours are learned patterns that result in preventable injuries sustained in unnecessary falls and collisions. Most youth who make these mistakes are not intentionally flirting with danger. They ride the way they do because they have seen others do it or because they have been taught to ride that way by well-meaning, but misinformed, parents or friends.

Through a Child's Eyes

It is important to remember that children are not just small adults. They have special needs and characteristics that make them especially vulnerable in traffic.

For example:

Young children's peripheral vision is about two-thirds of adults'. When approaching traffic, children may not see the car that the adult next to them sees.
Children lack a sense of danger.
Children are restless and frequently not patient enough to wait for things like traffic signals.
Children are not good at judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles.
Children have acute hearing, but have difficulty localizing sound.
Children tend to focus on things that interest them most (like the ice cream van across the street or the ball that just rolled into the street).
Children often mix fantasy with reality; cars can be viewed as friendly toys whose headlights are eyes.
Children believe that adults will look out for them; they assume that if they see a car, the driver sees them and will watch out for them.

I hear, I know. I do, I understand

It is clear that there is a need to teach children skills for getting along safely in traffic. We cannot assume that it is sufficient to teach children the "do's and don'ts" of traffic. Statistics indicate that the most current traffic education methods, such as assemblies and bicycle rodeos, may be effective for teaching basic traffic laws to children, but have little bearing on behaviour and early traffic safety skills development. Children will remember 90 percent of what they do, but only 20 percent of what they hear.

Children need to practice and experience what they are taught about traffic safety, just as they practice what they learn in school. They do not master skills in one day and, just as in math or art, as children develop there are new applications to learn about traffic safety.