Continental, one of the leading international automotive suppliers, announced its collaboration with Safe Kids China to launch the Youth Safe-Driving Program 2012/2013 today at Tongji University. Under the motto, “Be a Responsible Young Driver”, the two-year program aims to enhance road safety awareness and promote safe driving behavior among young drivers as well as reduce road injuries. Representatives from the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Automotive Studies School at Tongji University joined student ambassadors at the kick-off ceremony.
Dirk Remde, Head of the Business Unit Electronic Brake Systems of Chassis & Safety Division, of Continental China said, “As one of the five divisions at Continental, the Chassis and Safety division advocates ‘Safety for Everyone’. We are devoted to making ‘Vision Zero’ a reality – a future without road accidents. Our division focuses on developing comprehensive active and passive technologies, such as Electronic Stability Control, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Airbag Control Unit Platforms, to prevent traffic incidents and make driving safer and more enjoyable. Driving safety is a key mission of Continental, so we’re honored to collaborate with Safe Kids China to impart the importance of safe driving among the youth, constantly contributing to road safety in China.”
Road incident is the primary cause of injury death. It is the 11th leading cause of death worldwide and the 9th cause of financial and emotional burden triggered by physical damages. According to statistics of the World Health Organization, approximately 1.2 million people around the world are killed in car accidents every year. In addition to fatal deaths, there are tens of thousands of people injured in car accidents, including those suffer from permanent physical damages. In China, in recent years, approximately 60,000 people die in car accidents every year, with young people accounting for the highest percentage. A lack of driving experience attributes to a high percentage of car accidents among young drivers.
Continental fully understands that the prevention of road injury is a global public health issue. In response to the United Nation’s initiative, ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020,’ Continental is fulfilling its duty as a socially responsible corporate citizen to join hands with Safe Kids China to introduce the Youth Safe-Driving Program in China, which aims to promote safe driving by training young drivers to be responsible drivers. As part of the European Commission Youth in Action Program, ‘Be a Responsible Young Driver,’ the Youth Safe-Driving Program has been successfully launched in many European countries. The two-year program is expected to benefit around 10,000 young people and eventually influence over 90,000 people. The first year’s Youth Safe-Driving Program will be held at Tongji University and Beijing Youth Politics College from November, 2012 to January, 2013. The program will also be held in another two universities in major cities of China in fall 2013.
A total of 30 students from the esteemed universities have enrolled in the Youth Safe-Driving Program 2012 as volunteers. The training topics include the danger of alcohol driving and attention distraction, driving speed and visibility, visibility of pedestrian, blind spot, etc. These students will be taking the role as project ambassadors to promote the concept of “safe-driving” in the campus by the means of knowledge sharing and interactive games, in order to experience the importance of proper driving behavior for road safety and build a sense of safe driving and habits. Through these training activities, more young students will be involved and committed to safe driving. In addition, with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this program will also be held at driver examination stations throughout various districts in Shanghai with the aim of promoting the importance of being a responsible driver with good driving behavior.
Monica Cui, Chief Representative and Executive Director of Safe Kids China said, “In response to the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety,’ Safe Kids China started launching a series of well-received road safety programs in 2011. We have been operating in China for over a decade, and this is the first time that we have cooperated with Continental to launch the Youth Safe-Driving Program. Combining education and experiential learning, the program will help young people form good driving habits. This program is driven by young people and spread by young people, making it more relevant and appealing to our target audience. We are confident that the key vision of the Youth Safe-Driving Program – ’Be a Responsible Young Driver,’ will be conveyed to a wide range of young people.”
