Children’s road safety: Observational study in kindergartens of the city of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, 2022

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preventive behaviors, such as using helmets and child restraint systems, are a key factor for road safety. In Argentina, these measures are rarely taken for the child population. The objectives were: a) to know the percentage of preventive behaviors in children and accompanying adults traveling to kindergartens in three modes of transport (four-wheeled motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles); b) to identify factors associated with the use of such measures; and c) to analyze the relationship between preventive behaviors, road conditions in the immediate surroundings of the kindergartens and the level of socio-environmental vulnerability in the area where they are located. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. A total of 462 drivers and 508 children were observed in 13 municipal kindergartens in the city of Mar del Plata. RESULTS: On motorcycles, 18.3% of the children wore helmets. In four-wheeled vehicles, 12.5% used some type of restraint system. On bicycles, only one child wore a helmet. When drivers did not use safety devices and in areas of high vulnerability, it was more common for children to travel without protection. The most deficient road environments were located in highly vulnerable areas and were associated with a lower proportion of preventive behaviors. DISCUSSION: The results provide a relevant contribution for the development of child road safety policies.