Effects of Safety Attitudes on Crossing Behaviours of Students Aged 10–18 Years: The Moderating Effects of Family Climate and Social Norms

This study focused on the effects of safety attitudes on young pedestrians' risky and positive crossing behaviours, with an emphasis on the moderating role of social norms and the family climate. Four hundred young pedestrians aged 10~18 years agreed to participate in this study and were required to complete the survey, which included items related to risky and positive pedestrian crossing behaviours, social norms, safety attitudes and the family climate. Safety attitudes, social norms and the family climate had direct effects on pedestrians' risky behaviours (aggressive, lapses and transgression), whereas only social norms could predict positive behaviours. Social norms and the family climate moderated the relationships between safety attitudes and transgressions, lapses and aggressive behaviour separately. More importantly, a three-way interaction was found, which indicated that social norms moderate the relationship between safety attitudes and transgression behaviours when the family climate is low. However, if parents actively monitor their offspring's behaviour and act as positive role models, a stronger rule violation attitude does not increase their transgression behaviour under low risk-supportive peer norms. The findings suggest that family climate and social norms are important determinants of pedestrian crossing behaviour through interactions with safe attitudes, providing a theoretical framework for the development of safety interventions for pedestrians aged 10-18 years.