Peer-reviewed article
Road Safety Game for Children: A Thematic Review
Siti Salwa Salleh, Siti Ayu Jalil, Ismassabah Ismail ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This thematic review examines 21 studies on road safety games designed to teach children how to reduce accident risks. The games use various formats including driving simulations, mobile apps, and web-based platforms. The review found that games improved children's road safety knowledge, changed their behavior, and increased their engagement with the topic. Road safety games cover diverse topics such as pedestrian safety, recognizing hazards, understanding traffic signals, and proper seat belt use.
Key points
- 21 relevant papers were identified through systematic database searches and screening
- Road safety games used multiple formats: driving simulations, mobile applications, and web-based games
- Outcomes measured included improvements in knowledge, changes in behavior, and levels of engagement
- Topics covered included hazard perception, pedestrian safety, bicycle and motorcycle safety, speed limits, traffic signs, distracted driving, defensive driving, and seat belt usage
- Selection of appropriate road safety themes is important for effectively addressing specific challenges and improving road safety outcomes
Limitations
This is a thematic review that synthesizes existing literature rather than a primary study, so it cannot establish causal effects or provide definitive evidence of which game approaches work best. The review does not appear to provide quantitative data on effectiveness or comparative analysis between different game types.
Abstract
The application of road safety games has progressed as an interactive approach for disseminating information to children in reducing the probability of accidents. To investigate progress achieved in this domain, a comprehensive thematic evaluation has been undertaken with the objective of discerning recurring patterns and emerging trends in the extant body of literature. The review's implementation has been structured according to a sequential process consisting of four primary stages: identification, screening, eligibility evaluation, and analysis. A thorough investigation of electronic databases was conducted, followed by a meticulous review, resulting in the inclusion of 21 relevant papers. The results indicate that a wide variety of gaming genres and platforms were utilized, including driving simulations, mobile applications, and web-based games. The examination of the efficacy of road safety games includes various indications of outcomes, including upgrades in knowledge, adjustments in behavior, and levels of involvement. The concept of road safety encompasses a wide range of topics and issues, such as hazard perception, pedestrian safety, bicycle and motorcycle safety, knowledge of speed limits, understanding of traffic signs and signals, avoidance of distracted driving, application of defensive driving techniques, and compliance with seat belt usage. This implies that it is advisable to use caution when choosing road safety themes, considering their pertinence, influence, and ability to successfully tackle specific challenges and improve road safety outcomes.