In Japanese culture, elementary school children walk to and from school independently (without adults) by forming a small group called a “shuudantogeko” in Japanese, known as the “walking school bus (WSB)” in English. This active commuting is essential for children’s health and social development. To ensure the continuity of this tradition, it is crucial to improve children's road safety through basic traffic awareness education that equips them with the necessary skills for safe interactions with traffic and pedestrians. Previous research indicates that children’s traffic accidents are often caused by factors such as insufficient traffic awareness, inadequate behavioral skills, limited cognitive and perceptual abilities, and a lack of experience in walking independently.

To address this issue, the research team investigated the contribution of Traffic Parks (TPs) to children’s traffic safety education by analyzing how children's knowledge of traffic rules and behavioral intentions are influenced by their experiences of using and playing at a TP before and after entering school.

Lead researcher Mital Chakma stated, "We analyzed response data from more than 800 children, collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in four elementary schools in Toyohashi City. The survey assessed children's awareness and behavioral intentions regarding ten traffic rules, along with the frequency of their TP usage. We applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to understand the complex relationship between children's frequency of TP use, their traffic rule awareness, and behavioral intentions. The results revealed that children's frequent use of TPs before entering school significantly improves their awareness of traffic rules and their behavioral intentions, contributing to safer road use."

Chakma also added, “TPs are engaging places for children where they can play, ride bicycles, interact with other children, and learn traffic rules in a play-based manner. These research findings have practical implications for developing foundational traffic safety awareness and behavior among children, particularly during the critical transition to elementary school.”

This research identified Traffic Parks as an effective play-based method for teaching traffic rules to children. However, this research is limited to the targeted TP only. The research team would like to explore other TPs in Japan and globally, as guidelines and policies may differ across regions.