Street smarts: Champittet students learn about road safety and accident prevention

For our younger learners, we received an educational visit from the West Lausanne Police. Our officer led our Grade 2 students through fun simulations and practical exercises covering the basics of traffic rules and road safety. After this talk, we went outside so that our little ones could practise safely crossing the street at the crosswalk. It was a memorable learning experience for all – little steps that make a big difference in keeping our children safe!

Meanwhile, our secondary students learned about this vital topic with the road safety and accident awareness organisation RoadCross. In an interactive class, our students discovered the main causes of traffic accidents, including inattention, speeding, medication, alcohol and drugs. To demonstrate how easy it is to become distracted, our guest speakers organised a small experiment: students were asked to write their name on the whiteboard while other students spoke to them. Who knew that writing your own name could be so difficult?

Multitasking, evidently, is much easier said than done – and augments risks on the road.

Our students learned other sobering traffic facts as well. In 2023, road accidents claimed 236 lives in Switzerland. Men are three times as likely to die on the road as women. More fatal accidents occur on country roads than on city roads, while city accidents result in a high number of seriously injured people.

A member of the DG Association, which supports bereaved parents, also shared the tragic story of his son’s death in a road accident. For our students, hearing this personal account underscored the seriousness of traffic safety and accident prevention. Our students came away with an understanding of prevention strategies and ways to get help in case of an accident, including calling the helpline of RoadCross.

When it comes to the road, we can never be too careful. Stay alert, stay safe!