🚦 Romania’s Call to Action: Empowering the Next Generation through Road Safety Education

Initiative details

Low Awareness and Misuse of Child Restraint Systems (CRS)
Despite legislation requiring child car seats, many children in Romania travel unrestrained or improperly secured. The event highlights the importance of proper CRS selection and installation, using crash simulations and expert demonstrations to correct misconceptions and promote evidence-based practices (e.g., extended rear-facing travel).

High Risk Among Young and Inexperienced Drivers
Adolescents and newly licensed drivers are overrepresented in serious road crashes due to inexperience, distraction (especially smartphone use), alcohol or drug influence, and fatigue. The event uses VR simulations and interactive sessions to show real consequences, helping young drivers internalize the impact of their decisions behind the wheel.

Vulnerable Road Users: Pedestrians and Cyclists
Children and teens are especially vulnerable as pedestrians and cyclists, often due to low visibility, risky crossings, and lack of road safety education. Through distorted-vision simulations (alcohol, cannabis, fatigue), the event raises empathy and awareness about the fragility of vulnerable road users and the need for responsible behaviour from all traffic participants.

Parental Misconceptions and Risk Normalization
Many parents underestimate the consequences of everyday traffic choices—such as holding a child in their lap or disabling safety systems for comfort. Our activities directly engage parents through emotional storytelling, live demonstrations, and one-on-one safety consultations.

Lack of Intersectoral Collaboration in Road Safety Education
Road safety is often treated in silos (e.g., enforcement without education). This event brings together NGOs, emergency services, police, international road safety experts, and civil society in a unified effort to educate, engage, and empower local communities.

Gaps in Road Safety Education in Schools and Public Campaigns
Formal education on road safety is inconsistent and often outdated. Our project develops modern, engaging, and scalable tools (e.g., VR technology, interactive workshops) that can be replicated in schools and youth programs.

Initiative date

Who was/is your target audience?

Policy makers
Public authorities
Young adults 17-25
Adults
Parents
Seniors
Company employees
Fleet operators
Car drivers
Car drivers – professional
Educational staff
Emergency services
Public transport
Van drivers
Lorry/truck drivers
Cyclists
Micromobility riders
Powered two wheeler riders (excluding micromobility)
Pedestrians
Others

Topic

Create awareness
Education in school or in community organizations
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Knowledge building and sharing
Provide alternative solutions
Training

Organisation details

Fundatia Siguranta Auto Copii
Association
Romania
Bucharest

Contact name

Cristina Calin

Telephone number

+40760873986

Project activities

If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.

Romanian Traffic Police (Brigada Rutieră / Inspectoratul General al Poliției Române)
▪ Actively involved in all road safety education activities—providing expert speakers, enforcement insights, and real-life case examples during events.
▪ Led sessions on rules of the road, safe pedestrian behaviour, and the risks of distracted or impaired driving.
▪ Strengthened the credibility and institutional alignment of the project.

SMURD Emergency Medical Services
▪ Provided demonstrations on proper child evacuation techniques and the importance of restraint systems in crash survival.
▪ Educated participants on post-crash first aid and trauma prevention.
▪ Helped create emotional impact by sharing real-life stories from emergency response teams.

Rotary Club International – local chapters (e.g., Rotary București Cișmigiu)
▪ Offered both financial and logistical support for organizing large-scale events.
▪ Mobilized volunteers and ensured local community involvement.
▪ Played a key role in organizing the International Youth Road Safety Conference in July 2025.

ClassVR (Educational Technology Partner)
▪ Provided virtual reality equipment and custom simulations tailored to road safety scenarios.
▪ Enabled immersive learning experiences for adolescents preparing for driving school or those in high-risk groups.
▪ Helped modernize and digitize road safety education tools.

Rotary Youth Exchange & Interact Romania
▪ Engaged teenagers in peer-led road safety education.
▪ Promoted leadership, volunteerism, and youth advocacy.
▪ Played a central role in disseminating project messages on social media and in schools.

Civic & Medical NGOs
▪ Contributed expertise on trauma prevention, behavioural psychology, and early childhood injury reduction.
▪ Collaborated on the development of workshop materials and public awareness campaigns.
▪ Notable contributors include: ASSMB, UNSAR, ATA (Romanian Transport Authority), and ETSC (European Transport Safety Council).

Corporate Partners (e.g., Autoliv, AutoExpert, TomTix)
▪ Supported funding through sponsorships, product donations, and awareness campaigns.
▪ Autoliv, a global leader in automotive safety systems, helped validate technical content and provided key data.
▪ AutoExpert offered media coverage, while TomTix supported the digital ticketing platform for event registrations.

Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.

Project Activities and Implementation Timeline
The National Child Car Safety Caravan and the upcoming Youth Road Safety Conference are part of a broader national initiative led by the Child Car Safety Foundation (Fundația Siguranța Auto Copii) to reduce child and youth road traffic injuries in Romania through immersive, educational, and evidence-based interventions.

Project Timeline
March – October 2024/2025: National Child Car Safety Caravan – a traveling educational roadshow reaching 15+ cities across Romania.

July 11, 2025: International Youth Road Safety Conference –organised in Bucharest, gathering local and international experts, institutions, and young people.

Key Project Activities
On-site Car Seat Safety Clinics
✓ Personalized consultations for families
✓ Car seat checks and correct installation demonstrations
✓ Hands-on training for new parents and caregivers
✓ Evaluation of common errors and tailored safety advice
Implemented continuously at every Caravan stop (March–October)

Frontal Collision Simulations at 13 km/h
✓ Real-time demonstrations with unrestrained dummies
✓ Highlighting the risks of low-speed impacts without proper restraint
✓ Open to both children and adults
Implemented during all Caravan events and safety fairs

Distorted-Vision Pedestrian Track
✓ Participants walk a controlled track while wearing simulation goggles mimicking the effects of:

Alcohol

Cannabis

Fatigue
✓ Increases empathy for vulnerable road users and illustrates the dangers of impaired driving
Active at selected Caravan stops, schools, and public events

VR-Based Education for Teenagers and Future Drivers
✓ Immersive simulations of road risks
✓ Interactive crash scenarios from the driver’s perspective
✓ Target audience: adolescents aged 14–19
Piloted in spring 2024, expanded in 2025 with support from tech partners (ClassVR)

Youth Road Safety Conference (July 11, 2025 – Bucharest)
✓ First regional event of its kind in South-East Europe
✓ Panel discussions, expert talks, NGO showcases
✓ Focus on involving influencers, educators, and youth-led campaigns
✓ Includes a charity auction and fundraising for further educational projects

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
✓ Collaboration with the Romanian Traffic Police, SMURD, local municipalities, Rotary International, NGOs, and private sector partners
✓ Joint public awareness campaigns, school visits, and training programs
Ongoing throughout the year

Fundraising and Sustainability (through participation fees & auctions)
✓ All proceeds support the national program #VerdePentruSiguranță (Green for Safety) – which brings modern road safety education to schools and vulnerable communities across Romania
Launched in 2024, continuing into 2026

In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?

✅ What Worked Well
Community Engagement Through Localized Events
The Car Safety Caravan model—bringing free, hands-on education directly into communities—proved highly effective in reaching families who may not actively seek road safety information. Partnering with trusted local institutions (e.g., schools, kindergartens, maternity hospitals) increased credibility and participation.

Interactive and Immersive Tools
Simulations such as the 13 km/h frontal crash test, impaired vision track, and VR experiences had a strong emotional and cognitive impact on participants. These tools transformed abstract road safety principles into tangible, memorable experiences, particularly effective for youth and parents.

Cross-sector Collaboration
The involvement of the Romanian Traffic Police, SMURD, Rotary Clubs, and international safety organizations ensured a multidisciplinary approach. Each partner brought unique strengths—law enforcement, medical emergency response, civil society outreach—which enriched the educational experience.

Use of Social Media and Influencers
Promotion through parenting influencers and local bloggers helped drive attendance and increased awareness beyond the physical events. It also helped normalize discussions about child car safety in online communities.

Scalability and Replicability
The Caravan format proved adaptable to both urban and rural settings. With modular activities and trained safety educators, the model is scalable for other regions in Romania and adaptable across Europe.

⚠️ Challenges Overcome
Low Initial Awareness and Cultural Barriers
Many caregivers did not initially perceive child car safety as a priority, especially in rural areas or among underserved communities. To overcome this, we used real-life testimonials, crash reenactments, and local champions to personalize the message and shift mindsets.

Logistical Complexity
Organizing mobile, multi-day events across the country required extensive coordination—permits, equipment transport, staff availability, and backup plans for poor weather. Strong planning protocols and local partnerships helped mitigate these logistical challenges.

Resistance to Behavioural Change
Some participants showed resistance to key messages (e.g., extended rear-facing travel, not holding children in arms). Overcoming this required a non-judgmental, data-informed approach, with peer-to-peer education and practical demonstrations.

Limited Resources and Funding Gaps
While participation was free for families, the financial sustainability of the project depended on partner sponsorships and donations. We addressed this by organizing fundraising activities (e.g. the car seat auction) and involving committed stakeholders like Rotary and corporate partners.

Reaching Adolescents Effectively
Teen drivers are a key risk group but also the hardest to engage meaningfully. VR simulations and peer-led storytelling proved the most impactful tools, though we continue to explore new channels (e.g. TikTok campaigns, school ambassadors) to strengthen this component.

Conclusion
Overall, the project demonstrated that practical, localized, and emotionally resonant road safety education can significantly improve awareness and behavioural intentions. With strong multi-sector collaboration and continued innovation, these challenges were not only overcome, but transformed into learning opportunities for scaling impact.

Evaluation

Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).

📊 1. Attendance and Participation Metrics
▪ Over 4,500 participants attended events during the Car Safety Caravan and Road Safety Youth Conference across multiple Romanian cities.
▪ Registration data was collected via online booking forms, allowing us to track demographics, family profiles, and regional reach.

📱 2. Social Media Reach & Engagement
▪ Campaign content (videos, testimonials, live sessions) reached over 250,000 people across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
▪ Engagement rates were monitored, including likes, shares, saves, and comments, with a focus on posts promoting proper car seat use, rear-facing travel, and adolescent driver safety.

📝 3. Feedback Forms and On-site Surveys
▪ Participants were invited to complete short feedback forms after each event.
▪ Results showed over 93% of parents reported learning new and valuable safety information they intended to apply immediately (e.g. adjusting harness fit, reconsidering seat orientation).
▪ Teen participants rated VR simulations and impact crash demonstrations as the most eye-opening activities.

📈 4. Pre- and Post-Education Knowledge Checks
▪ In selected locations, we tested knowledge before and after sessions to assess learning outcomes.
▪ There was an average 60% improvement in correct answers related to child restraint use and crash survival factors.

📬 5. Follow-up Engagement
▪ Many families subscribed to follow-up newsletters and continued to interact via our parenting safety forums and social channels.
▪ Some participants sent back photos or videos showing how they applied what they learned (e.g. adjusting their child’s seat, visiting a certified technician).

These combined tools helped us not only demonstrate reach and awareness, but also capture behavioural intent and practical application—key indicators of long-term road safety impact.

What has been the effect of the activities?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 1. Increased Awareness and Knowledge
▪ Thousands of parents and caregivers reported learning critical safety practices, such as the importance of rear-facing car seats, correct harness use, and avoiding aftermarket accessories.
▪ Many participants shared that they were unaware of these life-saving details before attending the event.

🧠 2. Changed Attitudes and Behaviours
▪ Participants showed a significant shift in mindset—from seeing car seats as optional or inconvenient, to understanding them as essential safety devices.
▪ After simulations and demonstrations, several families replaced inappropriate car seats or committed to using their existing ones correctly.

🚗 3. Improved Child Passenger Safety
▪ Partner technicians conducted free car seat checks during each event, identifying and correcting misuse in over 70% of cases—many of which could have been life-threatening in a crash.
▪ Dozens of at-risk children left the events safer than they arrived, properly secured in age-appropriate, correctly installed restraint systems.

🧍‍♀️🧑‍🎓 4. Empowered Youth and Future Drivers
▪ Teenagers who experienced our VR sessions and impairment simulations reported increased understanding of how alcohol, cannabis, fatigue, and distraction impair their driving skills.
▪ Feedback showed that these tools had a strong emotional impact, with students stating they now feel personally responsible for avoiding risky behaviours behind the wheel.

📣 5. Stronger Community and Cross-sector Engagement
▪ The events encouraged a culture of shared responsibility for road safety, uniting families, authorities, schools, and health professionals.
▪ Partnerships with law enforcement, emergency responders, educators, and NGOs helped amplify the message and ensure long-term local engagement.

In short, the effect of these activities has been both immediate (safer children leaving the events) and long-term (lasting behaviour change, increased awareness, and empowered future drivers)—contributing to a safer road environment for all.

Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.

This initiative effectively combines education, engagement, and hands-on action to address critical road safety issues, especially for vulnerable groups like children and young drivers. By organizing immersive, interactive events such as the Car Safety Caravan and Youth Road Safety Conference, we have successfully:

Raised Awareness: Our activities reached thousands of parents, caregivers, and teens, equipping them with the knowledge to make safer decisions on the road.

Promoted Behaviour Change: Through real-life simulations, expert advice, and hands-on support (e.g., car seat checks), we have empowered participants to adopt safer practices that can save lives.

Built Partnerships: Collaborations with key institutions like the Romanian Traffic Police, SMURD, Rotary Club, and medical experts amplified our reach and impact, reinforcing road safety as a shared societal responsibility.

Fostered Long-Term Safety Culture: By targeting both immediate actions (correcting car seat misuse) and long-term attitudes (educating teens on responsible driving), our initiative is planting the seeds for safer driving behaviours in the future.

Through these efforts, we have not only made immediate changes in individual behaviour but are also contributing to a broader cultural shift towards safer road practices in Romania.

How have you shared information about your project and its results?

📱 1. Social Media Platforms
▪ We used Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok, and YouTube to share updates, behind-the-scenes content, real-time event highlights, and testimonials.
▪ Posts were created to engage the wider public and raise awareness of the long-term impact of correct child passenger safety, safe driving habits, and the importance of education in reducing road accidents.
▪ Success stories and participant feedback were featured to demonstrate real-life examples of how the initiative improved road safety knowledge and behaviours.

📰 2. Press Releases and Media Coverage
▪ We partnered with local and national media outlets to share press releases before and after key events, including radio interviews, TV appearances, and articles in relevant publications.
▪ This helped extend our message to non-digital audiences and reach those who may not have attended events but are still part of the broader community.

🧑‍💻 3. Newsletters and Email Campaigns
▪ Regular email updates were sent to subscribers, event attendees, and partners detailing progress, key findings, and upcoming initiatives.
▪ This ensured that stakeholders were informed and encouraged to stay engaged in ongoing efforts.

🏫 4. School and Community Engagement
▪ We conducted in-person sessions at schools and local community centers, delivering presentations and workshops that helped spread road safety messages directly to students, teachers, and families.
▪ Information was shared through community networks, ensuring that road safety practices reached families across a variety of backgrounds.

📊 5. Event Reports and Publications
▪ At the conclusion of key events, we released detailed reports summarizing the results, including participation data, feedback, and qualitative insights.
▪ These reports were shared with partners, stakeholders, and via our official website to maintain transparency and demonstrate accountability.

🗣️ 6. Collaborative Platforms and Partnerships
▪ We worked with external partners (e.g., Rotary Clubs, local businesses, and other NGOs) to share success stories and future plans through their channels.
▪ Joint communication efforts allowed us to amplify the reach of our messages and attract additional support for our initiatives.