This spotlight series is dedicated to showcasing the best practices shared by ERSC members. Each month, we highlight a different member’s innovative road safety initiative. By highlighting these success stories, we aim to create a collaborative environment where others recognise, celebrate, and adopt lessons learned and best practices.
Our December spotlight features the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) for their educational road safety programme "KLIK – Seat Belt, a Habit of Responsible Behaviour." This initiative has been running since 2017 and aims to raise awareness of the importance of seat belt use among young adults, focusing specifically on senior high school students.
Why the KLIK initiative has been recognised as Good Practice of the Month
The KLIK initiative has been selected as this month’s Good Practice due to its focused and effective approach in promoting the use of essential safety equipment, particularly seat belts, among young drivers. The programme addresses a critical issue by educating students about the importance of seat belt use through interactive tools which provide a practical and impactful experience to reinforce safety messages.
The initiative also aligns with the European Road Safety Charter’s current focus on effective campaigns to improve the uptake of safety equipment and supports the theme of the upcoming European Road Safety Charter event on Wednesday 4 December, which will address strategies for enhancing the uptake of safety equipment on the road.
Key inspiration behind the KLIK initiative
The initiative, launched as part of the National Road Safety Plan of the Republic of Croatia, was motivated by the statistics showing that a significant proportion of young drivers in Croatia still neglect to wear seat belts. In 2021, 28% of drivers who did not use seat belts were between the ages of 15 and 24. KLIK was developed to respond to this issue, aiming to provide young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to make safer choices on the road. By focusing on senior high school students, the programme targets individuals at a crucial stage in their lives before they begin their driving education and are exposed to the risks associated with unsafe driving behaviour.
Project activities
Since its launch, KLIK has been implemented across 89 Croatian schools, engaging up to 7,000 students each year. The programme’s core activities include:
- Interactive Lessons: Road safety experts educate students about the importance of wearing seat belts.
- Rollover Simulator: The programme features a rollover simulator that allows students to experience the consequences of not wearing a seat belt.
- 10 Golden Rules Contest: As part of the programme, students participate in a contest to produce short films about road safety. The best videos are broadcast on the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) throughout the year, used as part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety nationwide.
HAK collaborates with numerous stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior, local traffic police, and automobile clubs across the country, to bring the programme to schools in both urban and rural areas. The programme is free of charge for participating schools and continues to gain traction with new schools frequently reaching out to show their interest in participating.
Outcomes of the initiative
The KLIK programme has successfully reached thousands of students nationwide, with 6,157 students participating in the interactive, educational lesson in 2023. Feedback from students and schools indicates a positive impact on road safety awareness, with many students committing to wear seat belts and encourage responsible driving behaviour among their peers and families. As a result of the programme and other road safety initiatives, Croatia has seen a decline in traffic accidents involving young drivers.
The initiative's success can be attributed to its engaging approach and real-world demonstrations, which help students internalise the importance of seat belt use. Additionally, the KLIK programme continues to expand its reach, with increasing participation from schools each year and introducing an English-language version of the programme.
For more information
Visit the Croatian Automobile Club's website here to read more about the KLIK initiative and explore the project's activities and outcomes in further detail.
If you want to develop a similar strategy in your local authority or Member State, contact the project lead, Petra Vedriš, at petra.vedris@hak.hr. Petra can provide further information or advice on the project, as necessary.
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