On Tuesday, August 28 this year. In Krakow a conference of school head and educational institutions of the Małopolskie voivodeship was held, organized by the Board of Education in Krakow.
The meeting was attended by a policewoman from the Traffic Department of the Polish Military Contingent in Krakow, who in her speech encouraged the current directors of primary schools to take part in the ninth edition of the Małopolskie Competition “Reflective School”.
The “Reflective School” Contest for the primary schools from the whole voivodeship was initiated by the Road Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow in 2010. Its aim is to increase the activity of directors of primary schools, local self-government authorities and parents in providing students with reflective vests. It gives the opportunity to show that their school not only teaches, but also cares about the safety of its students, especially on the way to and from school. In addition, the aim of the campaign is to draw the attention of educators, parents and guardians of the need to control the statutory obligation to use reflective materials and to promote all initiatives that limit the risks in road traffic.
This year’s campaign is being carried out in Małopolskie for the ninth time. Summing up the eight previous editions, we can say that they were very popular. In total, the competition was attended by over 2,500 primary schools from Lesser Poland, nearly 500,000. Students were equipped with reflective elements and reflective clothing. Over 30,000 appeared publications in the media promoting the use of reflective elements.
In addition, almost 3000 art competitions and knowledge about road safety were carried out. The “Reflective School” competition is run at the beginning of the new school year. Primary schools are taking care of students’ safety – equip them with reflective elements, making sure that they use them on the everyday road to and from school, ensure proper marking of school areas, organize educational campaigns promoting road safety, including parents.
The “Reflective School” Małopolskie Competition as an innovative approach of the Police to the education of students, translated into improved safety on the road for the youngest road users. From 2009, ie before the start of the competition to 2017, among children under the age of 14, the number of road accident victims decreased by 34%.