Children learn traffic safety the fun way in Street Angel program
Updated: 2015-06-25 10:41
By Liu Ce(China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
Pupils from Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province, learn the correct way of crossing the road, as part of the Street Angel road safety program. [Photo/China Daily] |
The 9-year-old enthusiastically enjoyed pretending to direct the traffic in the middle of her school playground, as other pupils crossed the street under her guidance, and that of a real policeman.
"My classmates and I have been learning this for a week now," she said with a smile.
"I can understand what traffic police mean with their hand signals. It's interesting. I like it."
Huang's efforts were part of an expanding national program meant to raise awareness of traffic safety rules using interactive games and classes.
Over the next three months pupils like her in nine schools across Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province, will be taking part in similar activities, co-organized by the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, China Traffic Safety Association and the city's Mixc One mall.
First initiated in 2013, the program, named Street Angel, has brought its message to 13 schools in China and plans to be expanded to hundreds of schools across the country.
According to the China Traffic Safety Association, traffic accidents remain the biggest killer in the country, with children the most common victims.
Its figures show 19 children are killed every day on China's roads, and four out of 10 victims of road accidents are children, most often between the ages of five and nine years old.
"No one doubts the urgent need to promote traffic safety education in this country," said Wang Jing, the association's secretary-general.
Wang said there have, in fact, been various traffic safety-focused educational initiatives run over the years, but the effect has been limited mainly because they have been sporadic rather than continuous, often lacking depth and systematic supervision.
"These children participating here are likely to be the country's future drivers responsible for creating a better traffic environment, so this program benefits the whole of society," Wang said.
Tong Li, the principal of Xinggong No 1 Primary School in Shenyang's Tiexi district, has already hosted the program, and is a great fan of what was offered to the pupils.
"Previously it was difficult to promote traffic safety education to children in school. We were short of professional knowledge and resources, and children were not interested because most of the training available just came across as boring sermons.
"But the program is different because it enables the children to learn more about traffic safety through interactive games, and the influence can also be extended to their parents."
More than 600 students in Tong's school have benefited from the program, but Xinggong No 1 is just one of around 1,000 schools in 100 cities likely to benefit in future, said Chen Luo, the project leader at the Chinese Red Cross Foundation.
"We really hope to have more people involved in the program," said Chen. "Our aim is to bring it to two million students over the next five years."
Related Stories
Campaign to raise car safety awareness 2015-06-18 10:15
Price of an elite education soars in Hong Kong 2015-06-11 11:00
Riding the winds of change in China 2015-06-03 08:02
Twin-track approach needed 2015-06-01 07:45
Early education is too early and too much 2015-06-01 07:03
Today's Top News
NSA eavesdropped on last three French presidents
BOC denies illegal activity in Italy
Senior CPC official to attend China-Russia media forum
British queen arrives in Germany on state visit
Chinese premier to attend China-EU leaders' meeting
Ministers unable to reach deal on Greece, but door is still open
Polish airline, hit by cyber attack, says all carriers are at risk
Paris 4th entering race for 2024 Olympics
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |