The strategy to align road safety education to the Further Education and Training band curriculum

Abstract

Road safety education is a complex phenomenon which should be viewed holistically if taken into account the interconnectedness of education, infrastructure and enforcement. Effective road safety education is specifically important for learners in the Further Education and Training (FET) band, as they are active contributors to a community. The greatest criticism against road safety education is that it is aimed at changing learners’ knowledge about the subject, but not necessarily influencing their attitudes as road users. The aim of this discussion article is to explore a strategy to integrate road safety education into the formal curriculum of specifically schools responsible for the FET band. By applying the desktop research method, the article conceptualises what the specific purpose of the FET band is and what the possible focus of road safety education and training should be. The article then explores international common practices in road safety education and training, and considers the necessary synergy between education, engineering and enforcement. The article uses secondary data collected from documents which are then thematically analysed. A coordinated and comprehensive education and training strategy is needed, facilitating partnerships in various sectors to implement such education in the FET band, in multidisciplinary ways, in a contextualised curriculum.