Self-Reported Compliance with Traffic Rules in a Sample of Iranian Preschoolers

Traffic injuries represent an important danger to children’s health. Safe traffic behavior requires both perceptual and cognitive abilities as well as compliance with traffic rules. The present study examines the relationship between knowledge of traffic rules, perception of traffic danger, moral judgment, self-regulation, and compliance with traffic rules among preschool children. It also examined gender differences across the study variables. A sample of 100 children aged 3–6 years participated in the study. Knowledge of traffic rules, perception of danger, and compliance with rules were assessed by interviewing each child using photos of traffic situations. Two components of self-regulation – impulse control and following an adult’s directions – were assessed using the Tower Task, the Tower Clean Up Task, and the Toy Sorting Task from the Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment. Moral judgment was assessed using Piaget’s task of stealing/clumsiness. Significant positive relationships among knowledge of rules, perception of danger, and self-reported compliance with rules were found. The ability to quickly follow an adult’s directions predicted greater self-reported compliance with rules over and above perception of danger and knowledge of rules. There were no significant gender differences in any of the variables. Using our results, educational programs for preschoolers could seek to improve their traffic knowledge of rules, perception of traffic danger, and self-regulation.