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| (Image Source: Rappler) |
Automobile company Volkswagen Philippines recently launched "Child Safety Initiative 2.0", a road safety program which aims to prepare children to become responsible adult road users. Held last May 20, 2017 at the activity area of Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City, the program features a driving course for kids and a seminar on road safety for children aged 9 to 12 years old.
The Junior Driving Course allows children to use push cars and become a driver in a simulated roadway. Throughout the course, lessons will be given out on the importance and significance of road signs and the meaning of every road sign available before they are allowed to "practice driving". Those who have finished the course receive a simulated junior driver's license.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen added a new program called "Steps to Safety". The new program is a 15-minute seminar that focuses on pedestrian safety and it is done through the aid of a virtual reality environment. The participants in the said program have learned three important things when crossing the road, namely: Plan (find the safest place to cross), Stop (before stepping onto the road), and Look (left and right before crossing).
More than 500 children every year die due to motor vehicle accidents according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, with 293 deaths among children aged 5 to 9 and 195 among those aged 10 to 14. The new road safety initiative is one of the more efficient and effective ways for the government and the private sector to educate children and their parents on responsible road safety. But, the nature of the roads is unpredictable, and those who are crossing it may not feel what is happening around. So, it is best to focus more on safety first.
