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Title: | Effect evaluation of a road safety education program based on victim testimonials in high schools in Belgium | Authors: | CUENEN, Ariane BRIJS, Kris BRIJS, Tom VAN VLIERDEN, Karin DANIELS, Stijn WETS, Geert |
Issue Date: | 2016 | Publisher: | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Source: | Accident Analysis and Prevention, 94, p. 18-27 | Abstract: | For several decades policy makers worldwide have experimented with testimonials as a strategy to promote road safety supportive views in a wide variety of target populations such as recidivists and students. In its basic format, a (relative of) a victim or an offender brings a personal testimonial of what it is to experience a traffic accident. The underlying idea is that such a testimonial will emotionally affect participants, thereby stimulating them to cognitively reflect upon their own behavior and responsibility as a road user. Unfortunately, empirical literature on the effectiveness of this strategy is rather scarce and inconsistent. This study investigated the effect of a large-scale program with victim testimonials for high schools in Belgium on five socio-cognitive and behavioral variables drawn from the Theory of Planned Behavior (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention and behavior). Moreover, this study investigated program effects on participants' cognitive and emotional estate and whether this influences the program's impact on socio-cognitive and behavioral variables. Our test sample included 1362 students, who were assigned to a baseline - follow-up group and a post-test follow-up group. We questioned both groups, a first time (just before or after session attendance) on paper, and a second time (two months after session attendance) online. Results indicate the program had, both immediate and two months after attendance, small to medium positive effects on most sociocognitive and behavioral variables. However, effects depended on participants' demographic profile, their baseline values on the socio-cognitive and behavioral variables, and the degree to which they were cognitively/emotionally affected by the program. We discuss the practical implications of these findings and formulate recommendations for the development of future interventions based on victim testimonials. | Notes: | [Cuenen, Ariane; Brijs, Kris; Brijs, Tom; Van Vlierden, Karin; Daniels, Stijn; Wets, Geert] Hasselt Univ, Transportat Res Inst IMOB, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. [Brijs, Kris] Hasselt Univ, Fac Appl Engn Sci, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. | Keywords: | victim testimonials; theory of planned behavior; effect evaluation; pre-driver education;Victim testimonials; Theory of planned behavior; Effect evaluation; Pre-driver education | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/22535 | ISSN: | 0001-4575 | e-ISSN: | 1879-2057 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.aap.2016.05.006 | ISI #: | 000381326200003 | Rights: | (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2017 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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cuenen 1.pdf Restricted Access | Published version | 628.13 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open Request a copy |
Cuenenetal_auteursversie.pdf | Peer-reviewed author version | 362.2 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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