As in many other low-middle income countries, the rate of road traffic fatalities and injuries in Georgia is unacceptably high and poor visibility of pedestrians, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer streetlights, is a serious problem. Indeed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate that a large proportion of pedestrian and cyclist collisions in low-income countries occur around dusk, dawn or at night.
EASST’s Georgian partner, Partnership for Road Safety have been visiting regional schools to teach children how to stay visible and safe on the road.
During the sessions, held between April and June 2016, school children were shown how invisible pedestrians can be for drivers at night, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer street lights. Over 1500 children from 15 schools were given reflectors and safety jackets to keep and were shown how they work in practice by walking around in the dark!
Teachers and Patrol Police Officers also took part, wearing their own safety jackets to show children how they can be seen by drivers and stay safe.
