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The ‘BE SAFE’ campaign, sponsored by UHU, is expected to reach 50,000 children through traffic safety demonstrations, posters, brain storming puzzles, fun games and educational books. Experts from the BDC will visit schools in the UAE to demonstrate traffic and safety rules to spread awareness on road safety among students. The campaign will also look into ways of solving common problems, such as parents parking on school keep clear zones, children not wearing seat belts, and children getting out of cars onto the road.Speaking at the press conference, Saif Ahmed Belhasa, Chairman of Belhasa Driving Center, said, “Road safety remains one of the most serious health risks facing children in UAE and other developed countries. According to a study by Department of Community Medicine, UAE University, Al Ain, road traffic injuries claim the lives of more than 300 children aged 14 and under in UAE annually. This campaign is aimed at educating tomorrow's drivers today, and as such we strongly believe that road safety awareness should start from the primary level. As a part of our ‘BE SAFE’ campaign, we will distribute safety books to children to take home to parents on general road safety, seat belt safety and the dangers of driving at excessive speed. For the children themselves, the campaign reinforces the ‘holding hands’ message and equips them with educational material to understand road safety through fun filled puzzles.” According to recent estimates by the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), children were estimated to comprise at least 12 per cent of the 2006 traffic |
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traffic awareness as subjects to be studied in all private and public
schools.
