The Road User Behaviours of Chinese Adolescents: Data From China and a Comparison With Adolescents in Other Countries

Abstract

Objectives: Adolescents experience high rates of road traffic injuries and deaths as pedestrians and cyclists. One likely reason for adolescents’ elevated traffic injury risk is their risky behaviour on the road. This study examined Chinese adolescents’ road behaviour using a nationwide survey. Methods: Across 7 Chinese provinces, 4,794 adolescents completed the Chinese version of the Adolescent Road User Behaviour Questionnaire (ARBQ). Results from t-tests and ANOVAs described the road behaviours of Chinese adolescent subgroups, and meta-analytic techniques and Kendall’s correlation analysis compared adolescent road behaviours between China and other countries (Iran and a high-income country composite). Results: Replicating previous reports from other countries, male adolescents in China generally reported more risk-taking on the road than females, and adolescents aged 15 years and over behaved in a riskier manner than younger ones. Adolescents in rural China reported more risky road behaviours than those who lived in cities, and adolescents who lived only with grandparents behaved more riskily than those who lived with parents only or with parents and grandparents. Adolescents previously involved in a traffic injury also reported riskier road behaviours. In cross-national comparisons, Chinese adolescents’ scores on unsafe road behaviours were lower, and scores on safe road behaviours were higher, than those in other nations. However, there were also several commonalities in how adolescents across countries ranked the frequency of engaging in specific risky road behaviours. Conclusions: Gender, age, living environment, and traffic injury experience affect adolescents’ reports of their risky road behaviour. Chinese adolescents reported more cautious behaviour than those in high-income countries and in Iran. Traffic injury interventions for adolescents should consider adolescent development as part of pedestrian safety training; results also have implications for guiding parents on how to supervise adolescents near traffic and on what infrastructure development strategies might best protect adolescents in traffic situations.

Motor Vehicle Collisions during Adolescence: The Role of Alexithymic Traits and Defense Strategies

“…The first aim of this study was to verify sex-related differences in adolescents’ frequency of MVCs. Previous studies have reported conflicting results, with some studies finding a higher prevalence among adolescent males [ 4 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], but research reports few and inconsistent results concerning females and road accidents [ 95 ]. However, our study is in line with recent studies by Breen and colleagues [ 4 ] and by Le and colleagues [ 5 ], which evidence a greater risk of recurrent MVCs for adolescent males than females.…”

“…Epidemiological studies on adolescents’ road collisions have reported a rate of prevalence of approximately of 50% [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], with important consequences for their psychological and physical well-being [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Most studies have shown a higher prevalence of injuries and road accidents among males [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], and results concerning females in relation to road accidents are few and inconsistent [ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…Specifically, this study aimed to verify in a sample of male and female adolescents: (1) the possible differences between male and female youths in the recidivism of MVCs. Based on previous literature [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], we hypothesized a higher rate of MVCs among adolescent males. (2) The possible associations between MVCs, alexithymic traits, and maladaptive defense strategies use.…”

Comparative Analyses of Parameters Influencing Children Pedestrian Behavior in Conflict Zones of Urban Intersections

“…The research based on simulated roads carried out in the USA where 85 children and 26 adults were observed in the same traffic conditions while crossing the road, pointed out that younger children, boys and children with less behavioral control engaged in risker behavior [11]. Recently, studies regarding the influence of children's age and gender on their traffic behavior were carried out also in China [12,13] and Estonia [14]. Results from the study [12] suggested that male adolescents reported riskier behaviors than female and showed significant age difference-older adolescents demonstrated riskier behavior than younger; however, the other study established that there is no statistically important difference between male and female population regarding risky traffic behavior [13].…”

“…Recently, studies regarding the influence of children's age and gender on their traffic behavior were carried out also in China [12,13] and Estonia [14]. Results from the study [12] suggested that male adolescents reported riskier behaviors than female and showed significant age difference-older adolescents demonstrated riskier behavior than younger; however, the other study established that there is no statistically important difference between male and female population regarding risky traffic behavior [13]. In a study carried out in Estonia, the gender factor was important, and on average 13-year-old boys take more risks as pedestrians than girls [14].…”