Citation

Delaney AK, Newstead SV, Corben BF. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2003; 7(1): 62-69.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) community based road safety program has operated in primary schools throughout Victoria since 1990. The program includes education, engineering, encouragement and enforcement initiatives, aimed principally at reducing casualty crash frequency and severity for children as pedestrians, bicyclists and passengers. This paper describes the methodology and results of an evaluation of the crash effects of the Safe Routes to Schools program in Victoria. The results indicate that the estimated average yearly net effect of the program over the post-implementation period was beneficial in safety terms. The largest percentage reduction in casualty crashes was identified for primary school-aged pedestrians and bicyclists travelling during school travel times only. Crashes involving primary school-aged pedestrians and bicyclists at all times, and crashes involving primary school-aged children at all times, were estimated to have fallen by 12.6 and 12.7 percent respectively. In addition, a 4.8 percent reduction in crashes involving all road users at school travel times was identified.