Start Safe Travel: A Safe Travel Program for Families of Preschoolers

In 2010, Safe Kids developed pilot materials on pedestrian and passenger safety for children ages 3-5. Safe Kids coalitions in four metropolitan cities utilized the materials to conduct trainings at local Head Start centers to educate center instructors, who then trained the caregivers of the students. Pre-surveys testing caregivers' knowledge were collected prior to the training for caregivers. Educational materials were then modified to train the Head Start center instructors. After all sessions were completed, Head Start centers submitted evaluations and post-surveys to facilitate the further development of training materials. In 2011, the Start Safe Travel program was created and implemented by 100 Safe Kids coalitions. During the pilot, 359 pre-surveys were administered by the Head Start instructors. The pre- and post-surveys had eight identical questions. Pre-survey results had an average score of 59.1%. 186 post surveys were collected with an average score of 72.71%. In one city, parents' scores on knowledge for the safest seating position in a vehicle dropped from 51.08% to 10.29%. Parents' knowledge on the correct way to look before crossing the street rose from 71.3% to 90.86%. Following completion of the Start Safe Travel program, a total of 2,826 pre-surveys and 2,780 post-surveys were collected and are currently being analyzed. Open-ended evaluations were also completed by participating instructors. Based on lessons-learned from the pilot, car seat checkup event requirement was added, pre- and post-surveys were administered the same day and enforcement of Head Start instructors not deviate from the script to ensure consistent messaging.