Školaonica teaches children road safety through coloring and quizzes

Where should children cross the road, and can they run across a zebra crossing? How old must a child be before a bicycle helmet is no longer mandatory? These were among the questions children explored at Školaonica, a road-safety workshop organized by Večernji list with the support of Triglav Insurance and in cooperation with Prometna abeceda.

The event took place on Sept. 5 at Zagreb’s Z Centre during its birthday fair. The program ran from noon to 4 p.m. Strong wind and high temperatures did not reduce attendance. Sandra Mikulčić, a Večernji list journalist and the initiator of Prometna abeceda, led the workshop and explained traffic situations in language suited to the children’s age.

The children tested their knowledge through short, entertaining quizzes and drawing activities. In one exercise, they added a missing helmet to a cyclist. In another, they circled all the different road users in a picture. They also discussed where to cross the road, whether they could run over a zebra crossing, and why they should stop and look both ways before stepping onto the carriageway.

The activities focused on situations children encounter while walking with their parents or traveling to school. Parents received materials to continue the lessons at home, including a “super pedestrians” guide and a special traffic-safety version of the board game Ludo. Police advice included practicing the route to school together, choosing the safer route even when it is longer, checking whether parked cars obstruct the child’s view, and modeling the rules themselves. Children copy adults, the advice noted, so parents should not expect them to wait for a green light if they cross on red.