Primary school students crossing a zebra crossing. The number of children aged 12 and under injured in traffic accidents fell in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2015.
The number of children aged 12 and under injured in traffic accidents fell in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2015.
This dropped from 144 children from January to June last year, to 127 in the same period this year.
The numbers were revealed by Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Social and Family Development, Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim on Friday (Nov 4), at the annual Shell Traffic Games in St Hilda’s Primary School.
But every accident case is still one too many, said Prof Faishal, who urged that needless tragedies can be avoided by educating the young to practice road safety habits.
The roles of other road users are equally important, he added, as young children may not be fully aware of the potential hazards around them. This is why all motorists should be patient and cautious on the roads, and parents should act as role models.
The drop in injuries comes as the Traffic Police ramps up its efforts to reach out to the young and vulnerable. In the first half of this year, there was one casualty.
Following a pilot scheme where a Road Safety Corner was launched in St Hilda’s Primary School in the East last year, the police announced that it will extend such corners to three other schools, covering the north, south and west zones.
The schools are Zhenghua, Qihua and Gan Eng Seng Primary Schools.
From next January, the Traffic Police will use an app to replace hardcopy questionnaires at the Road Safety Community Park to increase interactivity for young children as well.
Come next year, this app is expected to be made available to the public.
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