TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Developing safer passengers through a school-based injury prevention program JO - Safety science A1 - Chapman, Rebekah L. A1 - Buckley, Lisa D. A1 - Sheehan, Mary C. SP - 1857 EP - 1861 VL - 50 IS - 9 N2 - Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among young people. Fourteen percent of adolescents aged 13-14 report passenger-related injuries within three months. Intervention programs typically focus on young drivers and overlook passengers as potential protective influences. Graduated Driver Licensing restricts passenger numbers, and this study focuses on a complementary school-based intervention to increase passengers' personal- and peer-protective behavior. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of the curriculum-based injury prevention program, Skills for Preventing Injury in Youth (SPIY), on passenger-related risk-taking and injuries, and intentions to intervene in friends' risky road behavior. SPIY was implemented in Grade 8 Health classes and evaluated using survey and focus group data from 843 students across 10 Australian secondary schools. Intervention students reported less passenger-related risk-taking six months following the program. Their intention to protect friends from underage driving also increased. The results of this study show that a comprehensive, school-based program targeting individual and social changes can increase adolescent passenger safety.

LA - en SN - 0925-7535 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2012.05.001 ID - ref1 ER -