Learning About Road Safety Through Play

Learning About Road Safety

Through Play

By Lt. Jonathan Beauvais, Provincial Communications Coordinator, Advisory and Prevention Department, Quebec Automobile Insurance Company

No matter how many mirrors, cameras and alarms are added, some blind spots can never be eliminated from heavy vehicles, even with the driver’s unwavering attention. Therefore, it is crucial that pedestrians, including children, are made aware of the dangers that blind spots present and are reminded that they must stay as far away from heavy vehicles as possible.

In recent years, carrier enforcement officers with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (Quebec Automobile Insurance Company) have been raising awareness among drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across the province by inviting them to slip behind the wheel of a truck. Outside the vehicle, red mats provide a visual illustration of the blind spot areas.

Of course, children are delighted to have the opportunity to climb into the driver’s seat of the truck. However, they are so excited about everything around them that they are often less receptive to the road safety messages.

In order to address this issue, we have developed an interactive awareness activity that teaches children how to share the road with heavy vehicles from the moment they become active road users. The activity makes use of PLAYMOBIL toys (truck, bus, automobile, cyclist and pedestrian) along with a play mat that shows an overhead view of an intersection and red blind spot areas.

This activity makes it easier to capture their attention: The children learn as they play. Moreover, PLAYMOBIL toys are quite popular among children, many of whom have them at home. They can reproduce the training activity at home to show their family and friends what they have learned. The PLAYMOBIL project received the “Prix Coup de cœur du jury d’honneur” award at the Gala des Grands Prix d’excellence en transport held by the Association québécoise des transports (AQTr). It stood out among more than 40 competing projects for its innovative and promising character. The jury also recognized the importance of educating young people about road safety. n