AN EVALUATION OF THE BELTMAN MULTI-MEDIA TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the suitability of the Beltman multi-media traffic safety program as an instructional tool in grades K-3. The objectives of the program were to develop the habit of wearing a seat belt and to instill positive out-of-school safety behavior.; A modified nonrandomized control-group pretest-posttest design was employed utilizing two experimental groups. Each group had approximately 180 second grade students. The treatment period lasted eight weeks. Lessons were taught twice a week for 30 minutes or three times a week for 20 minutes. Three months after the completion of the Beltman Program, experimental group 2 received two booster lessons to reinforce safety concepts that were presented earlier in the program.; A 20 item multiple-choice test instrument was developed and administered on three separate occasions. The pre-test was administered in September, 1981 by the classroom teachers. Results from the pre-test indicated that there were no significant differences in traffic safety knowledge before the treatment began. Post-test 1 was administered immediately after the Beltman program had been taught. The experimental groups scored significantly higher than the control group, but no different from one another. Post-test 2 was administered two months after experimental group 2 received their booster lessons. Again, the experimental groups scored significantly higher than the control group, but no different from one another.; A seven item postcard questionnaire to measure out-of-school behavior was developed and mailed to each parent at the same time post-test 1 and post-test 2 were given. Results from the questionnaire indicated that seat belt usage increased significantly immediately after the completion of the Beltman program. However, four months after the program ended, seat belt usage dropped and there were no significant differences between control and experimental groups. Experimental group 1 was reported to be using crosswalks significantly more than the remaining groups on the second parent questionnaire. Experimental group 2 was reported to be scanning significantly more than the remaining groups on the second parent questionnaire.