Reflective vests for over three million students across the country. A social campaign called “It’s good to see you” began. Reflective vests were distributed in the city by the Minister of Justice Zbigniew and the Minister of National Education Anna. The campaign’s ambassador is the popular actor Cezary Pazura.
“Good to see you” was created for security. In 2017, there were nearly 33,000 road accidents in the country, in which two thousand eight hundred and thirty-one died, and nearly 40,000 were injured. One of the most common accidents was “hitting the pedestrian”. The action “Good to see you” is co-financed by the Justice Fund, administered by the Minister of Justice.
Vests protect life
The idea behind the campaign is to increase public awareness related to traffic hazards and real prevention of accidents. It’s about education, especially in children whose health and life is the most important, the right ways to behave on the road. Children must be safe, when they go to school, they return home from classes, leave the streetcar or bus, go through the intersection with traffic lights, ride a bike on a trip. And in any other traffic situation. Regardless of how a child moves along the way, as a pedestrian, cyclist or passenger, it should be visible to other road users. Hence the slogan “Good to see you” and a huge undertaking, which is the transfer of reflective vests with reflective materials to all students of primary schools in Poland. Specially prepared for children, comfortable and aesthetic vests (in several sizes to feel comfortable in them) are practical and above all, the most effective. By reflecting lights with an incomparably greater surface than in the case of ordinary reflectors, they allow the youngest children to be seen in conditions of poor visibility on the road, which protects them against being hit by a car. Soon this kind of vest will get, for free, over 3 million children!
Safety through education
The size of the action is caused by the threat scale. In 2017, there were 32 760 road accidents in Poland, in which 2,831 people died, and 39,466 were injured. One of the most common types of accidents was “hitting the pedestrian”. Data concerning children is particularly shocking. In the last year in Poland, there were 2 822 road accidents involving children aged up to 14 years. In these events, 56 children were killed and 3,116 were injured. This situation requires extraordinary measures that have been taken in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice. Just being visible on the road does not guarantee complete safety if the child does not know how to move in traffic. Therefore, the action “Good to see you” is not only 3 million reflective vests, but also a wide educational campaign. Each primary school student will receive a leaflet (with a lesson plan on the back). There will be “7 reflective road councils” – a handy guide for safe behavior on the road. Basic lesson plans on the subject will also be available in all primary schools – for use by teachers.
Campaign accessible to children
An equally important element of the campaign is spots and short animated films that will be shown on television and the Internet. Prepared in an attractive and accessible to young recipients form will help shape good habits among children. The point is not to give them only theoretical knowledge, but in practice to show how to participate safely and wisely in road traffic. This is how the spots and cartoons were designed. The popular actor Cezary Pazura became the ambassador and “face” of the campaign.
The campaign is to shape the attitude of a responsible road traffic participant. The message is given by four values: – knowledge – concerning the rules of participation in road traffic; – awareness – knowing, in a manner adapted to the age of the recipient, the consequences of non-observance of these rules; – responsibility – understanding that the behavior of a pedestrian on the road not only affects his life and safety but also affects other road users equally; – readiness – being properly equipped (reflective vests with the reflective fabric) and the ability to adapt to changing road conditions; – kindness – understanding that all road users have a common goal: efficient and safe displacement, which is easier to achieve with a mutual positive attitude.
Mission counteracting crime
The nationwide campaign “Good to see you” has a chance to permanently subscribe to the public awareness. The project will involve all road users to increase safety on Polish roads. It is also of great importance for counteracting crime.
Causing an accident in which another person loses their life or injured is after all a crime. Subject to the liability defined by the Penal Code, and above all extremely dangerous, because it brings often irreversible, tragic consequences. That is why the campaign promoting road safety and shaping the right model of behavior in road traffic has gained the support of the Justice Fund.