An investigation of traffic safety knowledge, behaviour and risk perception for schoolchildren: a case study of India

School-going children in India are disproportionately vulnerable to traffic-related injuries due to behavioural, infrastructural, and systemic shortcomings. Despite growing awareness of road safety, a major gap persists in understanding how cognitive and social factors jointly influence children’s safety orientation across different travel modes. This study examines the relationship between risk perception, safety attitudes, observed adult behaviours, and self-reported risky practices among Indian school children aged 12–18 commuting by two-wheelers, cars, auto-rickshaws, school buses, or private/state buses. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 925 students across two Indian states through both online and offline surveys. Descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Multiple Regression Analysis were employed to identify latent constructs and assess the predictive influence of attitudinal, perceptual, and observational factors on children’s safety behaviour. Although most students demonstrated adequate safety awareness, observed adult misbehaviour and permissive risk attitudes significantly predicted unsafe practices. Regression analyses revealed that adult rule violations (β = 0.099–0.307) and limited risk perception explained up to 50% of variance in risky acts. School bus users showed higher behavioural awareness and safer attitudes (β = 0.439), while two-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, and private/state bus commuters displayed greater risk-taking tendencies. The study concludes that children’s traffic safety is shaped by cognitive, social, and environmental factors rather than knowledge alone. Mode-specific, context-sensitive interventions integrating behavioural education, parental and driver involvement, and structured supervision are essential to bridge the gap between awareness and safe action among young commuters.