Youth have the highest crash injury risk in New Zealand. Māori and Pacific youth have an even higher risk. Highlighting and promoting benefits of modal shift from cars to active and public transport may increase health and safety. We aimed to create a discussion surrounding transport issues to gain a better understanding of attitudes and behaviours of non-driving youth, to empower our participants and to promote health and social change by making participants' opinions and experiences known to the broader community through a public exhibition. We engaged nine non-drivers aged 16-24 years in photovoice. Through sharing their photos and stories, participants used the power of the visual image to communicate their experiences. This method is an internationally recognized tool that reduces inequalities by giving those who have minimal decision-making power an opportunity to share their voice. By the end of the project, it was clear that the participants were comfortable with their non-driving status, noting that public and active transport was more cost-effective, easy and convenient. This attitude reflects recent studies showing a marked decrease in licensure among young people in developed countries. This project uniquely prioritized young Māori, Pacific and Asian non-drivers.
BackgroundYoung people have the highest crash injury risk of any age group. Highlighting use of active/public transport is an appealing solution to delaying driving among this cohort.Aims/Objectives/PurposeWe aim to create discussion surrounding transport issues that is generated and propagated by youth themselves. Our objective is to learn from the experiences of youth who use alternative means of transport, and apply this knowledge to future interventions focused on delayed driving.MethodsNine non-drivers aged 16–24 were recruited for a project utilising the Photovoice participatory photography method as a research/health promotion tool. Photovoice participants take photographs of their daily environment; by sharing their photos and stories, they use the power of the visual image to communicate their experiences. This method is an internationally recognised tool to advocate for policy and behaviours that reduces inequalities by giving those who don't have much decision making power a voice.Results/OutcomeThe photographs were narrowed down to a small number of self-reported favourites, and we worked with participants to write a narrative for each photo. A public photography exhibit was held, making public the issues surrounding the transport choices of this group of young people, extending their audience and giving participants a platform to be heard.Significance/Contribution to the fieldWhen it comes to crashes, Pacific/Maori youth suffer an increased risk. Graduated Driver Licensing policies suggest that reducing exposure to car use is an under-tapped health strategy to reduce the burden of youth road trauma. This project uniquely focuses on nondriving youth in hopes that it will also encourage their peers to drive less, avoiding this harmful exposure.
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