In Colombia, road education has ceased to be a forgotten subject to become a national priority. This is established by Law 769 of 2002, known as the National Land Transit Code, whose article 56 orders the Compulsory Road Safety Education at preschool, primary and secondary education levels
Although this provision has more than two decades in force, its effective implementation has been intermittent. However, before the alarming number of road accidents that especially affect children and adolescents, The Government has decided to strengthen compliance. According to figures from the National Road Safety Agencythousands of people in traffic accidents die every year, minors being a especially vulnerable population.
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Article 56 of Law 769 establishes that road education must be taught systematically, not as an independent subject, but integrated into existing subjects such as ethics, social sciences or physical education. Each educational institution has autonomy to decide How to include these contents in your Institutional Educational Project (PEI), provided that your teaching is guaranteed.
To do this, The Ministry of Education has developed pedagogical guides such as knowing how to move, which offer practical orientations for teachers. These tools seek that students recognize risks, respect traffic signs and adopt responsible behaviors on the roads.
In this regard, the Ministry of Transportation, in articulation with the National Road Safety Agency (ANSV) and the Police Traffic Department, has launched strategies such as safe school environments and the National Road Education Strategy in educational centers. These initiatives include pedagogical days, delivery of educational kits and signaling in school zoneswith the aim of reducing accidents around schools.
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In addition, municipalities have been promoted to implement measures such as speed control and improvement of road infrastructure in school zones, establishing a limit of 30 km/h in these areas.
From the Ministry of National Education, The road universe strategy has been promoted, which seeks to foster a culture of safe mobility from childhood. This initiative is articulated with the development of citizen and socio -emotional competences, promoting values such as empathy, responsibility and respect for life.
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Within the framework of the National Plan for the Colombia World Power of Life, 5,000 schools have been prioritized to implement citizen education strategies that include road safety as a transverse axis.
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The authorities insist that road education is not just the responsibility of schools. Parents should also reinforce what they learned at home, giving example as pedestrians, cyclists or drivers. Safe mobility training is a key tool to save lives and build a more conscious and respectful citizenship.
Valentina Delgadillo Abello
Portfolio journalist
