FESTIVALS
The European Road Safety Day is an annual campaign. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from accidents in cities. Nowadays, there are enormous risks for pedestrians and cyclists in towns and cities, and these risks are increasing every day as traffic grows. There are more than 1.2 million traffic accidents every year. Half of the people involved are pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists.
The European Road Safety Day is part of a large plan by the United Nations called ‘Vision Zero’. The goal of Vision Zero is to reduce the number of people who get hurt on roads by 50% by 2030 and to achieve zero deaths on roads by 2050
Vision Zero started in Sweden in 1997. The main principle is that it is unacceptable for people to die or get hurt on the roads. The responsibility is not only on the people who use the roads but also on the people who design them. The aim of Vision Zero is not to stop all accidents, but to make them less dangerous. Some ideas from Vision Zero include: slow speed limits for cars, more space for pedestrians, special cycle lanes for bikes, safer cars with new technology and teaching people how to keep safe on the road.
The Vision Zero approach is very successful and many countries are now following this model.
deaths increasing more than _______________ get hurt started less safer
What can I do to help road safety?
• Wear a helmet when you cycle.
• Wear a seatbelt in the car.
• Use pedestrian crossings.
• Always respect traffic light signals.
• Never use your phone when you cycle.
1 PAIRWORK Tick (4) the things you shouldn’t do when you ride a bike.
Wear a helmet.
Ride and talk on your phone.
Wear dark clothes.
Cycle on the cycle lane.
Use hand signals to indicate when you turn left or right.
Wear headphones.
2 Read to the text and complete the sentences with one word.
6th May is the European Road Safety Day.
1 Nowadays cities are dangerous especially for , cyclists and motorcyclists.
2 By the UN aims to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50%
3 The Swedish Vision Zero plan wants to have deaths from road accidents by 2050
4 Vision Zero does not expect to stop but to find solutions to reduce deaths and serious injuries.
5 limits and cycle lanes can help reduce the problem.
An event invitation
Task one GROUP WORK Your class wants to celebrate the European Road Safety Day. Work in groups and decide what activities you want to organise. Make a list.
CLIL – CITIZENSHIP (Constitution)
1 Match the signs to the words from the box. traffic lights • no entry • cycle lane • speed limit pedestrian crossing • turn left
2 PAIRWORK Look at these slogans for road safety. Which is your favourite? Why? Discuss with your partner.
Task two Now each group prepares an invitation to an event to promote road safety. Include a title for the event, date, time and place of the event, a brief description of it.
We’re happy to invite you on the 6th May at p.m. to at for the European Road Safety Day! Activities: , , and Come and join us!
Task three Compare your invitation to the invitations of the other groups. Are your activities similar? Are they original? a quiz about road signs invite an expert on road safety
3 PAIRWORK Now create a new slogan about road safety with your partner.
4 Compare your slogan with the slogans of your classmates.