Young children, 3 to 6 years’ old, were observed in two situations: (1) a
traffic model, where they used dolls to enact the movements of two children on the
way to and from day care; and (2) as they crossed a lightly trafficked, minor road
in a situation analogous to that in the model. Atotal of 131 children participated.
All were tested in the model situation (a), both on understanding of safety and
safety devices and on road-crossing behaviour. The latter was seen as a task
consisting of three components (i) using a zebra crossing, (ii) stopping at the
curb, and (iii) looking for cars. Asubgroup of 47 children was tested on three
character traits, activity, distraction, and impulsivity. Another subgroup of 45
children participated in the roadside situation (b). The results show that although
both age and understanding were important predictors of appropriate behaviour in
both traffic situations, the behaviour components were differentially related to
these factors. Of the character traits, impulsivity was found to be reliably related
to traffic behaviour.
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