Study of traffic environment awareness among elementary schoolers in Japan, and a program to raise it

摘要

We outline the changes in environmental education and traffic education in Japan; identify the level of awareness among schoolchildren of the traffic environment, a level that has changed over time; and suggest a proper direction for environment-oriented traffic education. In addition, the Program for Considering Wise Use of Cars was developed for school education toward reducing unnecessary operation of family cars, reducing CO{sub}2 emissions from cars and mitigating traffic congestion. The program was implemented in elementary school classes and its effectiveness is verified.