UNIFIL helps teach children about traffic safety
Mohammed Zaatari- SHAMAA, Lebanon: More than a hundred students attended an educational session Friday on basic traffic safety, in an event organized by UNIFIL to mark U.N. Global Road Safety Week.
One hundred and twenty students, aged 11 to 13, learned about traffic signals, road safety signs and the proper way to wear seat belts.
At the headquarters of UNIFIL’s western sector, in the Tyre district town of Shamaa, the Italian UNIFIL contingent and the agency’s Civil Affairs office held interactive activities for students, in collaboration with road safety NGO Kunhadi. A number of the area’s schools participated in the session, along with the Italian Carabinieri military police unit, Tanzanian traffic police and the UNIFIL transport unit.
Brig. Gen. Salvatore Cuoci, commander of the western sector, and Kunhadi President Fady Gebran and Deputy President Lena Gebran were among those present.
U.N. Global Road Safety Week was launched by the United Nations to raise awareness of car accidents.
The event saw collaboration between UNIFIL and the area’s schools, municipalities and civil associations. Activities involved theoretical and practical lessons aimed at teaching students basic road safety as well as details of the traffic system, regulations and signage.
Fatima Ftouni was among the participants. “We learned how to walk on the road and we were tested on road safety signs,” Ftouni told The Daily Star. “We used to know a little, but today our knowledge expanded a lot.” She said she learned about the importance of wearing a seat belt on the school bus, and how it’s not permissible to park in spaces reserved for those with disabilities.
Lena Gebran from Kunhadi explained that the activities aim to keep the kids safe, and that students are now calling for better traffic safety in front of their schools, urging drivers to slow down.
“Our [stance on] the new traffic law is that it should be implemented firmly, and hence will reflect positively in terms of reducing car accidents,” Gebran said. “Our role as an organization is [to increase] awareness and pressure officials for better mobilization.”
A new traffic law went into effect last month, and is being gradually implemented by security forces. Gebran explained that around 850 people aged 15 to 29 die each year as a result of car accidents.
To engage participants, many of the activities were interactive, giving students a hands-on educational experience. Each student had a chance to sit in UNIFIL’s cars, put the seat belts on and was shown the speed radar. Students also took part in a demonstration on how and when to cross the road by following traffic lights and road signs.
“When crossing the road the green light should be lit and motorcycle drivers should wear safety helmets,” said Aya Bahsoun, a participating student. “I will ask my bus driver to drive slowly, there’s no need for speed.”
UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs section distributed fluorescent triangular warning signs for students to place in their families’ cars, as well as road safety manuals, small gifts and certificates for taking part in the session.
Habib Aziz, a Civil Affairs officer, explained that this was the third consecutive year UNIFIL has organized a traffic safety awareness campaign in Shamaa, adding that such events expand students’ knowledge and can help keep them from danger.
