Dubai: Special lectures, workshops, video screenings and a series of other activities will mark the beginning of a three-month long road safety campaign for school students who are about to start the new academic year.
The ‘School Safety Campaign’ was launched by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior to increase road safety awareness among children and help curb road fatalities in the UAE.
The drive will be officially launched at the upcoming ‘Back to School’ event to be held during September 13-15 at Meydan Grandstand.
The fun-filled awareness campaign will feature a series of activities such as quiz competitions, special screenings of safety videos and a meeting with their favourite ‘Salama’ road safety character. Children will also receive a copy of the Salama road safety magazine.
Following the launch, RTA will also conduct safety workshops and lectures at various schools and distribute safety guideline brochures to children, parents and bus drivers.
Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic at the RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said: “Our aim is to increase awareness among young children so they have the basics in mind by the time they are old enough to get their driver’s licenses. Once we are aggressive about safety awareness it will have a positive effect on these children, who will be the pillars of our community in the future.”
According to statistics provided by the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD), child fatalities accounted for 11 per cent of the total road traffic deaths in the last three years. Of those, 59 per cent were UAE nationals, 23 per cent Arab expatriates, and 13 per cent Asian expatriates.
HAAD statistics also revealed that the UAE has one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities, with an average of 19 deaths per 100,000 people. Road traffic crashes are the prime cause of child fatalities in the UAE, around three times higher than the global average.
A paid event, the proceeds of ‘Back to School’ will go to Safe Centre, the special needs institute. Ticket prices start at Dh15 for individual entry, while a special family discount is also available for two adults with up to three children for Dh50. Groups of ten people will pay Dh100.