Improving children’s on-road cycling with immersive video-based training: A pilot study

Cyclists are frequent casualties in road traffic collisions, and cyclist inattention is often implicated. Children more distractible than adults so arguably vulnerable users, including when cycling. Research shows that misallocation of attention or distraction a common factor crashes involving cyclists, child cyclists likely to be seriously injured, possibly because their hazard perception inferior adults. Video-based training paradigms designed improve children’s situation awareness have yielded mixed findings, but none examined positive transfer such interventions on-road cycling performance. The aim this study was use an immersive video-based protocol allocation, performance children who had completed UK cycle aimed at 9–11-year-olds. Thirty-three aged 10–12 years were randomly allocated either Intervention group Control group. All participants reported behaviour self-efficacy, online tests baseline, post-test, retention stages. Between baseline the intervention (n = 17) lab-based which they viewed real-world point-of-view footage on screen while pedalling stationary cycle. As navigated five virtual routes task demonstrate potential hazards other information pertinent safety, with decreasing levels support from researcher as progressed. control did not receive intervention. participants’ individually assessed urban roads two testing occasions, by qualified instructors. outperformed terms performance, Making good observations (Observation; F[1,31]) 16.53, ηp2 0.35, p 0.0003,); Communicating intentions clearly others (Communication; 13.70, 0.31, 0.001); Choosing maintaining most suitable riding positions (Position; 7.41, 0.19, 0.01); Understanding priorities road, particularly junctions (Priorities; 6.88, 0.18, 0.01), although accompanied significant changes self-efficacy awareness, all p’s > 0.05. present findings suggest one herein may safety therefore effective complement current protocols. Given ongoing governmental investment infrastructure UK, concomitant increase micromobility modes active travel, national policy will need consider additional perceptual-cognitive demands face young cyclists; potentially efficient cost-effective way mitigate these demands. However, further research should devoted development – preferably ones correlate with, if predict, independent