The RACQ Streets Ahead program: An impact evaluation

Primary school children are vulnerable road users. School-based road safety education programs aim to reduce fatalities and injuries among youth by targeting knowledge and psychosocial risk factors. Despite their important role, many programs may not be subject to comprehensive, independent evaluations. The RACQ’s Streets Ahead program targets primary school-aged children (with levels of the program specifically targeting different age groups). The program consists of interactive sessions delivered in Queensland primary schools by professional facilitators who are also qualified teachers. Informed by an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study assessed the ‘Level 4’ program for Year 5-6 students using a cross-sectional survey with intervention (post-program) and control (baseline, pre-program participation) groups. Preliminary results indicate that participation strengthens attitudes, subjective norms and anticipated regret in key road safety scenarios with some impact also upon perceptions of behavioural control. These findings provide support for the program influencing some key behaviourally-pertinent constructs