Beterem and Road Safety Authority Launch 30 Events for Road Safety Week
Translated & summarized from Alarab by baba
Beterem and the National Road Safety Authority have launched approximately 30 events across Israel for Road Safety Week, aiming to raise awareness about child safety and road hazards. The initiative includes hospital and community activities, with a focus on the Arab community, and utilizes educational programs and safe playrooms. The project, funded with an annual budget of about one million shekels, seeks to reduce injuries through culturally adapted guidance and training local professionals. Officials emphasized road safety as a shared responsibility and a year-round commitment.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Beterem and the National Road Safety Authority are holding about 30 events for Road Safety Week.
- Activities are taking place in hospitals and communities across Israel, including the south and north.
- The initiative focuses on raising awareness and providing culturally adapted safety guidance in the Arab community.
- Educational tools include the "Dear Bear" program for kindergartens and safe playrooms.
- The project aims to reduce child injuries through a year-round commitment to road safety.
- Officials stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring broad cooperation.
The "Beterem" organization for child safety and the National Road Safety Authority have partnered to launch approximately 30 events as part of Road Safety Week. The initiative aims to raise awareness through a program that spans the past and upcoming weeks. Activities are being held in hospitals across Israel, including the French Hospital in Nazareth, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, and Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, as well as Soroka University Medical Center in the south. Community events are also taking place in various towns, including Eilabun, Shfaram, and Rahat.
The project, which began last year with an annual budget of about one million shekels, currently operates in 14 towns, with plans for expansion. Liat Verdin, Director of Strategy, Development and Community at Beterem, highlighted key challenges in the Arab community, such as pedestrian and vehicle safety, and accidents near homes, particularly in Bedouin communities. The program addresses these issues through culturally adapted guidance in Arabic, focusing on family structures and environmental factors like shared courtyards and a lack of sidewalks.
Educational tools include the "Dear Bear" program for kindergartens, teaching children about vehicle and road safety. Beterem has also developed a family game to encourage dialogue on safe decision-making and provides guidance for mothers on using car seats and avoiding distracted driving. Safe playrooms, offering supervised family learning spaces, have been established, with the first in Arraba and another planned for Shfaram. Verdin noted that success is measured by participant numbers and local authority cooperation, with significant changes in injury data expected after three years of consistent program implementation. The goal is to train local professionals to continue the work independently and expand the model to new towns to save children's lives.
Gili Cohen, Director General of the National Road Safety Authority, stated that this year's Road Safety Week focuses on creating safe spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users. He emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring cooperation between government, local authorities, and institutions. Cohen described the partnership with Beterem as strong and ongoing, reflecting a shared commitment to reaching vulnerable populations and developing effective injury prevention solutions. He stressed that while the week raises awareness, the commitment to safety continues year-round.