Kids in the car, Unasca dedicates a week to training drivers
In 2023, deaths of children between 0 and 9 years of age increased dramatically by 225%
ROME – With the National Road Safety Plan 2030 (PNSS 2030), Italy aims to improve the strategies of the previous National Plan and reach the European targets of ‘Vision Zero’. The National Road Safety Plan 2030, referring to the “Global Plan for the decade of action for road safety 2011-2020”, defines the 5 pillars of action within which to create a training path, starting from the most tender age up to the most mature, with the aim of developing a greater awareness of one’s limits, incorrect behaviors and risks present on the road.
DRAMATIC NUMBERS: IN ONE YEAR 26 VICTIMS UNDER 10 ON THE ROAD, +225%
In 2023, there was a dramatic increase in the number of deaths for the 0-9 age group, with an increase of +225% compared to 2022. In total, 26 children lost their lives and 5,264 were injured, with an increase of 62.5%. In this context, the National Union of Driving Schools and Automotive Consulting Firms (Unasca) has decided to bring attention back to the issue of car safety for the little ones by involving all users who attend driving schools or automotive consulting firms with the aim of raising awareness of the risks and the need to adopt concrete solutions. This is where the project was born‘Week for the safety of children in cars’, scheduled from October 28 to November 3at all driving schools and automotive consultancy firms, both Unasca and non-Unasca.
THE WEEK FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN CARS, WHAT IT INVOLVES
The initiative was presented in Rome at the Chamber of Deputiesin the presence of the undersecretary of the ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Tullio Ferrante; of the president of the Transport Commission of the Chamber, Salvatore Deidda (Fdi); of Gimmi Cangiano, member of the Culture Commission in Montecitorio (Fdi); by Alfredo Boenzi, national secretary of Unasca Driving Schools and Andrea Onori, national manager of Unasca Road Safety.
During the Week, the project includes training-information in driving schools, and in all automotive consultancy contexts, future drivers, professional drivers engaged in qualification courses or renewal of transport licenses, and all users who will frequent the offices for the renewal or duplication of the license, or other automotive practices.
During the ‘Week for the safety of children in the car’ the importance of a correct positioning of the child in the car will be underlined, integrating this in-depth study within the training courses to promote awareness on this crucial issue. Furthermore, informative material will be distributed to customers, in particular grandparents or parents, at consultancy offices and driving schools. To support this initiative, slides and materials prepared by the Centro Studi Cesare Ferrari will be used, useful for effectively supporting training, together with informative illustrations to be distributed to customers.
THE OBJECTIVES
The aim is to raise awareness and train parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, university students, teachers, driving instructors and the general public regarding child safety in cars, promoting awareness on the topic and stimulating collective consciousness through the training of current and future drivers. “Compliance with the rules – says Unasca – is essential to achieve safety objectives”.
The project also plans to examine the new regulations on child safety devices, including anti-abandonment devices; involve expert trainers in the sector for an interdisciplinary and practical discussion, to be held in environments dedicated to driver training and automotive consultancy. Finally, examine the new regulations that from 1 September 2024 require the exclusive sale of child seats approved according to the latest directives, which aim to guarantee the safety of children, also protecting them from dangerous side impacts.
The project is therefore aimed at parents, grandparents and relatives to raise awareness of those who play an active role in protecting children during car transport. To students and, in general, to road users to train the new generations and promote safe and responsible driving. To driving instructors and teachers to ensure the dissemination of best practices in road safety in their training courses. And again to the experts in the sector to involve qualified professionals in the discussion and development of innovative solutions. Finally to the mass media to amplify the message and reach a wider audience through media coverage.
“The ‘Week for the safety of children in cars’ – explains Unasca – represents a unique opportunity to promote the culture of road safety and raise public awareness on the protection of the little ones, with a practical and regulatory focus. By involving important institutional figures, road users, professionals, mass media, we aim for a productive discussion and the creation of initiatives in this area by spreading awareness of this tragic problem, in all its forms”.
