Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality for Child Pedestrian Safety Training: A Case Study in China

This study explores the potential of using virtual reality in conducting child pedestrian safety training by designing and implementing a VR-based training intervention in three elementary schools in China, located in urban, rural, and fringe area respectively. The results suggested enhanced authenticity and interactivity as two technical affordances of VR, which enabled risky behavior diagnosis and personalized remedial instruction. The increased pedestrian performance among children during and after the VR intervention supported its efficacy as an innovative training program. Additionally, the empirical results indicated a limited impact of school location and family SES on children's pedestrian performance, highlighting the need for a universal pedestrian safety training curriculum for elementary schools nationwide.