Initiative details
Young pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable in traffic. Crash figures show that children and young people are more likely to be victims of road crashes when they start to travel independently and/or switch to a new means of transport with which they have less experience. Among young pedestrians and cyclists in Flanders, the number of road casualties increases from the age group of 6 to 11 years. Specifically among young cyclists, this increase continues in the age group of 12 to 15 years.
In the past, traffic safety and mobility education in primary education in Flanders was often limited to theoretical lessons on knowledge of traffic rules and traffic signs, usually for the age group of 6 to 12 years. With our practice-oriented pedestrian and bicycle certificates, we want to provide practice-oriented traffic safety and mobility education from kindergarten onwards (2.5 years).
In the past, traffic safety and mobility education in primary education in Flanders was often limited to theoretical lessons on knowledge of traffic rules and traffic signs, usually for the age group of 6 to 12 years. With our practice-oriented pedestrian and bicycle certificates, we want to provide practice-oriented traffic safety and mobility education from kindergarten onwards (2.5 years).
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Children 0-16
Topic
Education in school or in community organizations
Organisation details
Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde (VSV) (Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge)
Association
Belgium
Mechelen
Contact name
Werner De Dobbeleer
Telephone number
+32 477 206 228
werner.dedobbeleer@vsv.be
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
The Faculty of Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at Leuven University (KU Leuven) provided a scientific basis for our approach according to age.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
The Flemish government imposes attainment targets on all primary schools in Flanders. The attainment targets determine the minimum knowledge and skills that pupils must possess at the end of primary school. There are specific attainment targets for traffic education: pupils must be able to safely follow a known route on foot and by bicycle. To enable schools to test these skills, we started in 2011 with two practical tests for young pedestrians and cyclists in real traffic: the Great Pedestrian Exam for students in the third grade (age about 8 years) and the Big Bicycle Exam for students in the sixth grade (age about 10 years) of primary school. In addition, there is also an online theory test, the Great Traffic Test for students from the fifth grade (age about 9 years).
When we noticed that these tests remained only a snapshot and the pass rate did not improve, we expanded the tests from 2016 onwards with a system of structured preparatory trainings and corresponding certificates for children in kindergarten and primary schools up to the age of 12. For pedestrians, there are three levels: bronze, silver, and gold; for cyclists, there are four: balance bike, bronze, silver, and gold. Each level is geared to a specific age group and corresponds to specific practical skills and knowledge, progressing step by step and accounting for age-related motor and sensory limitations.
Each level includes a guide for teachers (see examples in annexe), detailing the specific skills needed and a training programme culminating in the test to obtain the certificate. The certificates align with the Flemish government’s attainment standards. The pupils take the certificate home with them so that the parents also know what traffic knowledge and skills their children have, and which topics they can practice further with their child. Overall, the certificate programme encourages safe behaviour and empowers children to navigate traffic independently.
When we noticed that these tests remained only a snapshot and the pass rate did not improve, we expanded the tests from 2016 onwards with a system of structured preparatory trainings and corresponding certificates for children in kindergarten and primary schools up to the age of 12. For pedestrians, there are three levels: bronze, silver, and gold; for cyclists, there are four: balance bike, bronze, silver, and gold. Each level is geared to a specific age group and corresponds to specific practical skills and knowledge, progressing step by step and accounting for age-related motor and sensory limitations.
Each level includes a guide for teachers (see examples in annexe), detailing the specific skills needed and a training programme culminating in the test to obtain the certificate. The certificates align with the Flemish government’s attainment standards. The pupils take the certificate home with them so that the parents also know what traffic knowledge and skills their children have, and which topics they can practice further with their child. Overall, the certificate programme encourages safe behaviour and empowers children to navigate traffic independently.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
We needed to convince teachers through training and conferences that pedestrian and bicycle training doesn't have to be boring, and that you don't have to be a "traffic expert" to give traffic lessons. Teaching pupils the necessary skills can be done in an accessible way, first in a secure place within the school (e.g. the playground) and then in the immediate school environment. Practical traffic lessons are not necessarily the task of the physical education teacher alone, but can also be completed by other teachers. That is getting better and better.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
Every school year, we ask the participating schools and teachers about their experiences with the traffic certificates, the Great Pedestrian Exam and the Great Bicycle Exam. In doing so, we also ask specifically about the impact of the traffic certificates.
Pupils who obtain a bicycle certificate demonstrate that they have the necessary steering and/or traffic skills for their age. Pupils who obtain a pedestrian certificate demonstrate that they have the necessary traffic skills for their age. We aim for a pass rate of 85% for each certification. The success rates for both types of certificates are between 89% and 91% and have remained status quo for several years.
Moreover, the number of students obtaining a certificate increases from year to year.
Pupils who obtain a bicycle certificate demonstrate that they have the necessary steering and/or traffic skills for their age. Pupils who obtain a pedestrian certificate demonstrate that they have the necessary traffic skills for their age. We aim for a pass rate of 85% for each certification. The success rates for both types of certificates are between 89% and 91% and have remained status quo for several years.
Moreover, the number of students obtaining a certificate increases from year to year.
What has been the effect of the activities?
See above
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
The initiative is part of a safe system approach to road safety and focuses more specifically on the "safe road user" aspect. In school environments and on frequently used routes to and from school in Flanders, more and more attention is being paid to the other aspects of the safe system approach, in particular safe speeds (30 km/h mandatory in school environments, increasingly also applied to school routes) and safe infrastructure (separate cycle paths where possible, pedestrian facilities).
Brussels Mobility (regional public service for Brussels) has already "translated" our certificates to the Brussels context. Other European countries are considering doing the same, as evidenced by our collaboration within the ETSC's LEARN project. The principle of traffic certificates is very easy to adopt.
Brussels Mobility (regional public service for Brussels) has already "translated" our certificates to the Brussels context. Other European countries are considering doing the same, as evidenced by our collaboration within the ETSC's LEARN project. The principle of traffic certificates is very easy to adopt.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
We have presented this project several times at (inter)national conferences and study days such as the POLIS conference, LEARN seminars (ETSC), the Dutch Road Safety conference, Velocity conference, etc.