The Malta Transport Authority has hosted a workshop on road safety education for children.

The aim of the workshop, which was attended by representatives from the police force, the Education Department and local councils, was to enhance the principles of road safety skills in schools, outline the existing road safety initiatives currently being organised in local councils and schools and increase road safety awareness in children and parents.

In view of the increase, over the past three years, in the number of road accidents involving children both as passengers and as pedestrians, the Road Safety Education for Children Workshop focused primarily on the importance of educating children about sound road safety principles and basics, crucial for the eventual and future reduction of road accidents, in particular, on restraint systems, the crossing of roads and the use of pelican and zebra crossings, the use of cycling helmets and gloves and other general road safety skills.

To this end, it was agreed that by all present that, where possible, these road safety principles would be re-enforced by road safety interactive material that would target different age groups

The outcome of the workshop included agreement on the importance of enhancing existing road safety initiatives targeted at children, establishing where and how road safety education can be promoted among children of school age, establishing input on the subject by the various entities involved, the establishing of a plan showing the way forward and the establishing of an effective communication channel between the participating entities.

It was also agreed that the objectives and principles set during the workshop would be managed by a committee made up of representatives from the Malta Transport Authority, the police force, the Education Department and local councils who will be pooling in their resources in order to ensure the most effective and efficient outcome in the interests of road safety in Malta.

The Road Safety Education for Children Workshop was addressed by Superintendent Ray Zammit, Pierre Gatt from the Education Department and Architect Audrey Testaferrata de Noto of the Malta Transport Authority.