Evaluation of Risk Factor for Children During Drop-off and Pick-up Time around the Primary School in Thailand

Kirati Sattanon,Prapatpong Upala

doi:10.2174/1874447801812010301

Abstract

Background:Traffic accidents, hazardous behaviors, and caretakers’ opinions have a strong effect on students’ safety during the drop-off and pick-up period. The present research about student drop-off and pick-up behaviors and spatial analysis will be helpful for better understanding school traffic incidents and related risk factors.Objective:To examine the risk factors associated with school drop-off and pick-up in three dimensions: 1) risk zones, 2) risk behaviors, and 3) risk periods.Method:A mixed method approach was employed using 4 sets of data, consisting of 1) the statistics of accidents occurring around primary schools, 2) the student drop-off and pick-up behaviors, 3) the opinions toward risk zones and risk periods, and 4) the data obtained from the survey and interview. The spatial analysis was conducted using kernel density estimation technique. The statistical data analysis was carried out to analyze and compare the questionnaire responses given by the teachers and parents from the primary schools with the highest accident rate in 5 regions of Thailand.Results:Pedestrian crossing points in front of the school gates and blind spots behind the school buildings were considered the risk zones. In the morning, the parents usually dropped the students off at the pavements in front of the school gate. Some of them walked the students to the classrooms. After school, the parents parked their cars and then walked to wait for the students at the meeting points scattered inside or outside the school. The opinions of the teachers and parents regarding the risk periods were found to be significantly different (p< 0.01), which affected the way the teachers and parents looked out for the students’ safety in the morning and after school period.Conclusion:The areas around pedestrian crossing points and school gates require effective transport planning in order to specifically prevent and monitor hazardous incidents. A scattering of drop-off and pick-up points are risk behaviors. Therefore, each school should clearly set up safe drop-off and pick-up points and pay close attention to the safety of students both in the morning and after school. Creating safety for students should start with improving the school environment in order to reduce anxiety and facilitate behavior change.

Highlights

This study aimed to investigate the risk zones around schools by focusing on the accident-prone areas outside schools and inside-school environment based on the parents’ opinions obtained from the questionnaire
This study focused to explore the drop-off and pick-up behaviors, methods, and areas, including the types of vehicles used by the parents
The following two factors were taken into account during the case study selection process: 1) the statistics of accidents occurring to children in each province, the statistics of accidents occurring to children within a 500-meter radius of schools, and the statistics of accidents occurring during the drop-off and pick-up time were collected from 65 Anuban Schools in order to find out the schools with the highest accident record in each 5 region [5], and 2) the physical environment of schools that could cause harm to children

Summary

Introduction

Thai parents tend to be concerned about traffic problems and school environment that can affect the safety of their children. These factors directly affect children safety at a national level. A questionnaire survey was carried out on the parents and teachers from Thai kindergartens and primary schools in Thailand in order to obtain data about drop-off and pick-up behaviors and opinions on children’s risk factors. The present research about student drop-off and pick-up behaviors and spatial analysis will be helpful for better understanding school traffic incidents and related risk factors

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion