BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-9, following car crashes, according to the National Safety Council. UAB psychologist David Schwebel, Ph.D., and his team are working on a virtual reality software program that is designed to teach young children how to cross streets safely. The project is being conducted through the UAB Injury Control Research Center and is funded jointly by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The team is using three, 21-inch video monitors, plus a high-powered computer system. The screens display an actual crosswalk and pedestrian crossing in the Birmingham area.

Test subjects, ages 7-9, view the screens displaying an intersection complete with simulated cars of different sizes with varying sounds, speeds, and traffic patterns. In this virtual world, the subjects decide when it is safe to cross the “street.” They step from the “curb” onto the “street,” which is a pad with a pressure switch electronically connected to a computer. The system registers the precise moment subjects enter the “street.” A virtual child on the screen then crosses the “street.” Afterwards, an animated character tells the subject whether the crossing was safe, a close call, or dangerous.

Schwebel and his team say they will use data from the experiment for further research examining the process through which children learn to cross streets to understand how pedestrian skills develop, and at what ages. Schwebel says he hopes to eventually adapt the virtual environment for use in schools.

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Image Size: 700 pixels by 1,052 pixels (2.3" by 3.5") Resolution: 300 dpi Format: JPEG (RGB) File Size: 315.5 KB Download Now! Caption: UAB psychologist David Schwebel, Ph.D. (pictured), and his team are working on a virtual reality software program that is designed to teach young children how to cross streets safely.