Continental launches Youth Safe-Driving Program in China

Continental, in collaboration with Safe Kids China, has launched the Youth Safe-Driving Program 2012/2013 at Tongji University in Shanghai.

Under the motto, "Be a Responsible Young Driver", the two-year program aims to enhance road safety awareness and promote safe driving behaviour among young drivers as well as reduce road injuries. Representatives from the Shanghai Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Automotive Studies School at Tongji University joined student ambassadors at the opening ceremony.

Dirk Remde, Head of the Business Unit Electronic Brake Systems of Chassis & Safety Division of Continental China said, “As one of the five divisions at Continental, the Chassis and Safety division advocates ‘Safety for Everyone’. We are devoted to making ‘Vision Zero’ a reality – a future without road accidents. Driving safety is a key mission of Continental, so we’re honoured to collaborate with Safe Kids China to impart the importance of safe driving among the youth, constantly contributing to road safety in China.”

A global problem

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, approximately 1.2 million people around the world are killed in car accidents every year. In addition to fatalities, there are tens of thousands of people injured in car accidents. In China, statistics show that approximately 60,000 people die in car accidents every year, with young people accounting for the highest percentage. Lack of driving experience contributes towards a high percentage of car accidents among young drivers. 

Continental fully understands that the prevention of road injury is a global public health issue. In response to the United Nation’s initiative, ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020,’ Continental is fulfilling its duty as a socially responsible corporate citizen to join hands with Safe Kids China to introduce the Youth Safe-Driving Program in China, which aims to promote safe driving by training young drivers to be responsible drivers. As part of the European Commission Youth in Action Program, ‘Be a Responsible Young Driver,’ the Youth Safe-Driving Program has been successfully launched in many European countries. The two-year program is expected to benefit around 10,000 young people and eventually influence over 90,000 people. The first year’s Youth Safe-Driving Program will be held at Tongji University and Beijing Youth Politics College from November, 2012 to January, 2013. The program will also be held in another two universities in major cities of China in the autumn of 2013. 

A total of 30 students have enrolled in the Youth Safe-Driving Program 2012 as volunteers. The training topics include the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol, attention distraction, driving speed and visibility, visibility of pedestrian, blind spot, etc. These students will be taking the role as project ambassadors to promote the concept of “safe-driving” in the campus by the means of knowledge sharing and interactive games, in order to experience the importance of proper driving behaviour for road safety and build a sense of safe driving and habits. Through these training activities, more young students will be involved and committed to safe driving.