CSDD launches road safety month with schoolchildren

Latvia’s Road Traffic Safety Directorate has launched a road safety month, reminding children to review traffic rules before returning to school, LSM reported.

The campaign opened on Sunday at the Riga Motor Museum, where children and young people could test their knowledge of traffic regulations. Organisers said heavier traffic near schools would increase the need for children to know how to reach school safely.

“After the summer, everyone returns to school, and some rules may have been forgotten. There may also be carelessness or anxiety about school. As a result, mistakes can be made on the road that may prove fatal, and children can suffer injuries or even more serious accidents,” said Kristiāna Rancāne, head of educational projects at the directorate.

Activities at the museum included games about right of way, cycling and avoiding dangerous situations. Katrīna and Keitija used one of the games to test their knowledge.

Aina visited the museum with her grandson. She cycles frequently and said it was good to have quick reactions because some drivers fail to follow traffic rules.

“I have to cross here, and a car comes from that side. There have been cases when the light is red but the car still drives through. That means it is not enough to know the rules; you also have to stay alert,” she said.

Kārlis said he taught his children to check that it was safe when crossing a street and to make sure that cars had stopped at pedestrian crossings.

Schools can also register pupils in grades one to six for traffic-rule lessons in which the rules are taught through different games.