#Japan #Toyota Mobility #Toyota City #Benesse Corporation #Safety App

Promoting Traffic Safety Education with Innovating Tools

The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), led by Akio Toyoda, has taken significant steps towards enhancing traffic safety education for children and their parents. As part of the initiatives organized under the ‘Tateshina Conference,’ a newly established subcommittee focusing on raising awareness among children, TMF has developed a trial version of a unique traffic safety app, 'NanaMamo: School Route Awareness Navigator,' along with a supportive educational program in collaboration with Benesse Corporation.

Understanding the Need for Traffic Safety Education

With their enrollment in elementary school, children expand their daily mobility, but their understanding of traffic safety and ability to avoid hazards are still developing. Statistics indicate that the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities peaks around the age of seven. Through this subcommittee, TMF aims to foster children’s ability to recognize dangers and adopt safer behaviors by developing innovative educational methods and engaging content. The overarching goal is not just to provide educational tools but to facilitate opportunities for parents and children to learn about traffic safety together and support effective safety education in schools, thereby reducing accidents involving young children.

Features of the 'NanaMamo' App

One of the cornerstone offerings of this initiative is the collaborative creation of the 'NanaMamo: School Route Awareness Navigator' app. This app allows parents and children to identify potential hazards on their school routes. By integrating accident data, vehicle statistics, and pedestrian footfall information, the app employs artificial intelligence to visualize hazards through the lens of user-reported 'near-miss' incidents.

The app not only provides a map indicating where dangers lurk but also educates families on key questions such as ‘What is dangerous here?’, ‘What should be careful of?’, and ‘What behaviors are advisable?’ Thus, after identifying hazardous spots through the app, families are encouraged to together walk their designated routes to appraise the dangers in real time. This process aims to embed safety behaviors in their daily routines while also stimulating conversations between parents and children about cautionary measures.

Currently, a pilot version of this app has been introduced to first graders and their parents in select areas of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Feedback from users during this pilot program will inform enhancements to ensure the app is beneficial for a broader audience.

Collaborative Development of Educational Materials

In conjunction with Benesse Corporation, TMF is also focused on creating a comprehensive traffic safety curriculum that can be implemented in schools. The curriculum titled 'Miraiseed: Collaborative Content with Enterprises and Organizations' emphasizes teaching children about traffic safety using familiar surroundings, thus encouraging active engagement and discussion. It even incorporates a strategy that involves students from higher grades teaching lower grades, reinforcing the learning experience for all involved.

Acknowledging the constraints of time in classrooms, the curriculum effectively supports the delivery of impactful traffic safety education without overburdening teachers.

Continued Commitment to Children’s Safety

Through the provision of the 'NanaMamo: School Route Awareness Navigator' app and the traffic safety curriculum by Benesse, TMF seeks to empower children with the skills necessary to identify risks and choose safe actions. TMF is committed to continuing this collaborative effort alongside various stakeholders, including other companies and local governments, to enhance awareness around traffic safety and initiate behavioral change in communities.

From its inception, Toyota Motor Corporation has maintained a steadfast commitment to respecting all stakeholders, including customers, partners, employees, and local communities. The foundation of TMF in August 2014 underlines Toyota’s dedication to fostering a rich society through mobility by tackling transport challenges on a global scale and beyond.

Conclusion

As these educational initiatives roll out, TMF hopes to cultivate a safer environment for children, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate their world securely. The 'NanaMamo' app and the educational efforts led by Benesse are exemplary steps towards a comprehensive approach to traffic safety that emphasizes parental involvement and real-world application.