The Dutch Traffic Safety Association (VVN), is a non-governmental, non-profit association with about 60,000 individual members and several hundred collective or business members. It is especially concerned with education and information, and aims to generate broad support for the Dutch Government's road safety policy and associated measures. It has 3000 active volunteers, supported by 60 professional staff, so that it can easily reach individual citizens. Road safety is taught well at Dutch primary schools, but unfortunately almost neglected in secondary schools. Their students are still interested in road safety, but have their own strong opinions about it and lack recognition of road danger. This paper presents the recent VVN pilot project "Safe School-Home Route", which is aimed at children aged 12-13, who are leaving primary school for secondary education. The project wants its children to be self-motivated; it involves parents and teachers, and arranges for a driving instructor and a policeman to contribute their expertise. There is co-operation between primary schools and secondary schools in it, and local authorities play a crucial part. The paper describes the nature of the project, project activities, roles of participants, and follow-up by secondary schools. The pilot has occurred in two towns at 20 schools, involving 600 children. Its first results are positive.
Abstract