In a groundbreaking effort to enhance road safety awareness among Kenyan schoolchildren, CFAO Mobility Kenya, in collaboration with the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), has launched the Toyota Road Safety Mural Drawing Competition. This initiative is a pivotal component of the broader #RoadSafety4All campaign, reinforcing CFAO Mobility Kenya’s unwavering commitment to fostering safer roads for all.
The Mural Drawing Competition offers a unique platform for students to reimagine and visualize road safety through art. By engaging in this creative process, children can express their understanding of road safety rules and share their perspectives on making roads safer. This initiative not only encourages artistic expression but also instills the importance of responsible road behavior among young road users.
The necessity for such initiatives is underscored by alarming statistics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every four minutes, a child loses their life on the roads globally. In Kenya, over 40% of road deaths involve vulnerable road users, including children. This trend highlights the critical need for targeted awareness programs to instill road safety knowledge from a young age.
At the launch event, CFAO Mobility Kenya’s Managing Director, Arvinder Reel, emphasized the importance of involving young minds in shaping the road safety culture:
“Children are among the most vulnerable road users, and it is crucial to empower them with the knowledge and tools to stay safe. The Mural Drawing Competition not only fosters creativity but also allows children to internalize road safety lessons and become advocates for change within their communities.”
Similarly, George Njao, the Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), welcomed the collaboration, noting that it aligns with the agency’s goal of elevating road safety through the dissemination of best practices and rules. He remarked that engaging children is essential, given their challenges with reading and interpreting road signs and their shorter attention spans, which make them vulnerable to road accidents.
The launch of the Toyota Road Safety Mural Drawing Competition marks another milestone in CFAO Mobility Kenya’s journey toward achieving safer roads. Through education and advocacy, the company is committed to shaping a future where children become champions of road safety, significantly contributing to the vision of zero road fatalities.
Road traffic injuries (RTIs) pose a substantial health and developmental challenge in Kenya. A study published in the International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion reported that the overall RTI rate in Kenya was 59.96 per 100,000 population in 2009, with vehicle passengers being the most affected. Notably, injuries to motorcyclists increased at an annual rate of approximately 29%.
Furthermore, the World Bank’s release of a dataset mapping 30,000 road crashes in Nairobi from 2012 to 2023 highlights the severity of the issue. The dataset, derived from crowdsourced data, provides valuable insights into the locations and circumstances of these crashes, informing targeted interventions.
Art has long been a powerful medium for communication and education. By integrating art into road safety education, the Toyota Road Safety Mural Drawing Competition leverages children’s creativity to reinforce safety messages. This approach not only makes learning engaging but also ensures that road safety principles are internalized and understood.
The competition invites schools across Kenya to participate by submitting mural designs that depict road safety themes. These themes encompass various aspects of road safety, including pedestrian safety, responsible driving, and the importance of wearing seat belts. Participating schools are provided with guidelines and resources to assist students in creating impactful artworks.
Benefits of Participation
- Educational Value: Students gain a deeper understanding of road safety principles through research and creative expression.
- Skill Development: The competition fosters artistic skills and encourages innovative thinking.
- Community Impact: Winning murals are displayed in public spaces, serving as constant reminders of the importance of road safety.
To further support road safety education, CFAO Mobility Kenya has been involved in various initiatives, such as the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. This contest encourages children to envision their dream cars and, in doing so, think about safety features and responsible usage. The contest not only sparks imagination but also subtly educates participants about the importance of safety in vehicle design and usage.
The success of road safety initiatives relies heavily on collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, schools, and communities. CFAO Mobility Kenya’s partnership with NTSA exemplifies such collaboration, combining resources and expertise to address the multifaceted challenges of road safety.
