Understanding Sex Differences in Children’s Injury Risk as Pedestrians

Objective Boys experience more injuries as pedestrians than girls. The aim of this study was to compare how boys and girls cross streets in order to identify factors that differentially influence their injury risk as pedestrians. Methods Using a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) system interfaced with a 3D movement measurement system, various measures of children’s street-crossing behaviors were taken. Results At the start of the crossing, boys selected smaller (riskier) inter-vehicle gaps to cross into than girls. Subsequently, as they crossed, they showed greater attention to traffic, shorter start delay, and more evasive action than girls, which are strategies that could reduce risk as a pedestrian. Despite these efforts, however, boys experienced more hits and close calls than girls. Conclusion To enhance their safety as pedestrians, girls adopt a proactive approach and select larger inter-vehicle gaps to cross into, whereas boys apply a reactive approach aimed at managing the risk created by having selected smaller (riskier) gaps. Girls’ proactive approach yielded safer outcomes than boys’ reactive strategy.