MARILAO, Bulacan–North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. officials recognize the role of young children in observing traffic management safety measures and protocols as they continue their efforts to further decrease the number of vehicular accidents along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) which was recorded more than thirty percent lower this year compared with 2022, expressway officials said.
Dave Bautista, road traffic manager of NLEX Corporation said during Friday’s NLEX Kiddie Traffic Safety Patrol bootcamp held at SM City Marilao that compared to January-June 2022, this year’s records of car accidents along NLEX and SCTEX within the same period was recorded more than 30% lower because of the continued implementation of their company’s road traffic management system.
However, despite this improved traffic safety on the expressway, young children who are often the vulnerable victims in accidents have vital roles to play in guaridng their own safety and even that of their family, friends and relatives while preparing to travel and while already on their trips that’s why the NLEX Corp had aunched the Kiddie Parrol bootcamp, Bautista added.
Cose to 100 school children, teachers including administrators and parents from Dolores Academy, Metamorphosis School Inc, and NTY Children’s Camp and other schools attended the road safety bootcamp project of the NLEX to help promote the protection of the children and maiintain disciplined and safe travels and also call on all stakeholders and concerns to help do their role on their respective families to help prevent road accidents particularly along the speed highways.
The young children ages 10 below were familiarized with most common traffic signs and traffic and hazards and reminders as they were also encouraged to observe them and remind their parents and other family members who are drivers and passengers of the vehicle of the safety protocols while inside the vehicle particularly the wearing of seatbelts including safe traveling, and road safety practices on the streets, all of which reinforce NLEX’s drive to encourage motorists to adopt safe driving habits.
The bootcamp, a collaboration between NLEX Corporation and Paramount Consumer Products, was also packed with exciting activities such as driving simulator games, road sign marking, as well as a road safety and travel preparations.
Fans young and young-at-heart also got the chance to meet Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol characters Skye, Chase, Marshall, and Rubble.
In the whole country, based on study, Bautista said, there is a 35 daily recorded death due to vehicular accidents. Worldwide, road accidents is the 8th leading cause of deaths now with 1.35 million recorded cases.
Based on this data, according to Bautista, the most vulnerable are as young as 4-10 years old.
Bautista identified speeding, fatigue driving, non-wearing of seat belt and distracted driving as the most common risk factors or cause of accidents. In these incidents, Bautista said, young children are the most vulnerable.
