LEARNING...AND LIVING

The Department of Street and Roads (DER) of Brazil has spent 20 years educating pedestrians about traffic. It has educated more than 520,000 children at the age 10, in public schools. A relevant reduction on the school children as victims in traffic accidents has shown that the program reaches its aims. The program is based on theoretical and practical activities that have its educational and social functions, which is the formation of appropriate attitudes to the exercise of living with organized traffic and following existing rules. The theoretical activities consist of the study of a booklet at elementary schools and listening to lectures held at the Traffic School. Additionally, the program tries to involve the whole community into traffic related activities.