EFFECTIVENESS OF PEER LEARNING STRATEGY USING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL MODELS FOR TIERED ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION

Abstract

The rising incidence of traffic accidents among adolescents highlights the need for an educational approach grounded in behavioral psychology to enhance both cognitive and emotional aspects of road safety awareness. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a tiered peer learning strategy within the "Pejuang Muda" program, organized by the Polytechnic of Road Transportation Safety (PKTJ), implemented in two beneficiary schools: SMAN 2 Tegal and SMK AL-HUDA Bumiayu. The intervention was conducted in three stages, involving 30 students in the first stage, 60 students in the second, and 120 students in the third. Each session combined theoretical instruction with practical application on a safety road. As part of the evaluation phase, two main competitions were held, involving 11 schools and attracting over 700 participants and spectators from elementary to higher education levels. The first, the "Safety Riding Campaign Competition", assessed participants' ability to deliver road safety outreach presentations and was won by SMAN 2 Tegal. The second, the "Safety Riding Skill Competition", tested practical riding skills, including braking, navigating a narrow plank, and completing a slalom course, with SMK AL-HUDA Bumiayu emerging as the winner. The findings demonstrate that tiered peer learning is highly effective in enhancing road safety literacy and awareness among adolescents. These results support the integration of peer-led learning methods into formal curricula as a sustainable strategy to reduce traffic accidents among young people.