Children as Motorcycle Passengers: Observational Study in Mar del Plata and Balcarce

POÓ, F.M.; TOSI, JEREMÍAS D.; LEDESMA, R.D.; FIRSENKO, E

Encuentro; 5th Meeting of the Safer City Streets Network; 2019

The present study examined the safety of child commuting to school by motorcycle. An observationalstudy was carried out in 22 elementary schools in Mar del Plata and Balcarce, Argentina. Data on environment (e.g. weather, school location), human (e.g. number of passengers, helmet wearing, etc.), and vehicular (type of motorcycle) variables were registered. The sample was composed of 1,062 motorcycle riders and passengers. Results showed that safety conditions are far from optimal. Low frequency of helmet use, unsafe feet position, and more than one child traveling as passenger were observed among other indicators. It is expected that the results of this study contribute to the design of road safety policies focusing on children