Toyota Traffic Tots’ road safety programme for pre-schoolers
UMW Toyota Motor has officially launched the Toyota Traffic Tots, a three-year road safety programme targeted at preschool children. The new programme is an extension of its existing Road Safety Programme, which is currently in its fifth year.
Working with programme partners, namely the Road Safety Department and Smart Reader Worldwide, the Toyota Traffic Tots programme is aimed at providing preschool children with essential road safety knowledge in support of the government’s National Road Safety Action Plan.
Under the programme, children will be provided age-appropriate lessons on road safety encompassing two categories – passenger safety and pedestrian safety. The former will include lessons on wearing safety belts and identifying traffic signs, while the latter will consist of lessons on road and vehicle dangers.
The pilot project will begin with ten selected Smart Reader preschool centres in Klang Valley this year, progressing to twenty centres the following year and thirty centres in 2014 nationwide. The lessons will be conducted for one hour every month, while teachers selected to conduct the road safety modules will be provided with training and teaching kit to ensure they are well-versed with the lessons.
“Our philosophy is that road safety should be taught when the child is still young as the knowledge will stay with them for a lifetime. Our message for the children is as simple as ABC- Always Be Careful. Where safety is concerned, there is simply no room for error,” said Mr Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
“The key message is that road safety awareness should begin as soon as possible so that safety values can be ingrained in early childhood. Therefore, the Toyota Traffic Tots programme is proud to be pioneering the drive to fill this void in road safety awareness among younger children,” Mr Ismet shared.
Pictures: Official UMW Toyota release.
