Youth Traffic Education

Young people face a relatively high incidence of traffic accidents; independent mobility, and the early years of riding mopeds and driving cars are highlighted in accident statistics. Providing traffic education to young people and supporting the development of safety-oriented attitudes is very important.

As young people are not a homogeneous group, a variety of approaches and methods are required for influencing their traffic attitudes and behaviour: facts, personal experiences, as well as appealing to emotions. For this reason, participatory models are extensively employed in youth traffic education.

The most important channels of influence are:

1. Upper secondary school and vocational institutions 
In upper secondary schools, traffic safety is closely linked to health education and the theme of well-being and safety. In vocational institutions, traffic education is included in general subjects by using current themes.

2. Finnish Defence Forces
Särmänä liikenteessä (“Be sharp on the roads”) is a co-operative project by Liikenneturva, the Finnish Defence Forces, and the Soldiers’ Home Association that reaches some 24,000 new conscripts per year.

3. Recreational and other youth organisations and municipal youth departments
Liikenneturva provides youth activity coordinators and counsellors with information and methods for discussing traffic behaviour and safety with young people. Supporting safe travel between the home and hobbies must be included as an integral part of the activities of youth organisations and sports clubs.