CSU 175/2011: GLOBAL PLAN FOR ROAD SAFETY/ CHILDREN'S TRAFFIC EDUCATION, BANGLADESH

Wednesday, 11th of May 2011

1) GLOBAL PLAN FOR THE DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY

In six languages, at http://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/plan/en/index.html

Country profiles, in alphabetical order, at http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/country_profiles/en/index.html

2) CHILDREN'S TRAFFIC EDUCATION, BANGLADESH

These 1998 documents give an interesting idea of how to attack the problem of death and injury from road traffic accidents.

By the way, do you know the word describing a Kigali motorcyclist without a helmet? Starts with a 'j.'

Scroll down to the end for the answer.

http://www.schoolsandhealth.org/Documents/Government%20of%20Bangladesh_Children%27s%20Traffic%20Education%20in%20Bangladesh.pdf

http://www.schoolsandhealth.org/Documents/Government%20of%20Bangladesh_Development%20of%20Road%20Safety%20Education%20Materials.pdf

From the Executive Summary

Research shows that human error plays a large part in road accidents, being a contributory factor in around 95 percent of accidents. Teaching safety skills to children can provide life long benefits to society. However, to develop safe road user behavior, children need to be taught skills rather than focus simply on rules, regulations and knowledge of traffic signs. By helping to develop positive, safe attitudes years as they become teenager and the adult road users.

Developing pedestrian safety is one of the main requirements of children’s traffic education in Bangladesh, especially in young children, as this will often be their primary mode of travel. The road crossing task is complex and requires a range of fundamental skills. . . .

Although immediate improvements in road user behavior are unlikely, many attitudes are developed early in life and road safety education should be seen as a longer term investment. The children of today are the adult road users of tomorrow.

What do you call a Kigali motorcyclist without a helmet? Jailbird!