Schools take part in Oman Traffic Safety Expo 2016

Muscat: This year’s Traffic Safety Expo is focusing more on the education of children, both on and off the road.
The exhibition, which started on Tuesday, is hosting 107 stalls designed to create an interesting learning experience, regardless of age.
Oman Expo organiser Melissa Daleja expects the exhibition to attract more than 60,000 visitors within just three days. Companies have set up attractions for children, as well as designated areas, especially meant for child interaction.
“The initiative of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) is to focus on road safety,” Daleja said. “Right now, they are encouraging more children to be a part of the awareness campaign. This is why they [ROP] are encouraging schools to take part in the exhibition.”
Three different schools will carry out a number of performances to express the importance of following the street laws, street signs and signals.
Oman Private School principal Michael Byrne believes that allowing children to take part in such campaigns actually has a lasting effect than merely instructing them later on.
“They’re getting an education in safety,” Byrne said. “Even if they’re just learning how to cross the road, it is much needed. Hopefully some of the lessons they learn here will carry on with them for years to come.”
The Rahab Al Marifa Basic Education School in Seeb also brought 10 students from the first to fourth grade to see the exhibition. Badriya Al Hasni, an accompanying teacher, told the Times of Oman that the children had spent all of last week participating in a Road Safety programme, creating posters and participating in competitions.
“It is important that they are aware from an early age,” Al Hasni said. “It is inevitable that they will one day drive, but till then, they will be riding with their parents or with someone else. They will understand the signals and even know how to act in the car to stay safe.” The three-day exhibition will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. every day and ends on October 20.