The National Traffic Safety Authority, the Ministry of
Education and Israel Police's Traffic Division are launching
a summer safety campaign on the proper use of crosswalks. The
campaign, scheduled to run from June 30th to September 15th,
has adopted as its slogan, "Pasim Lev."
Rabbi Moshe Naeh, road-safety coordinator for chareidi
education at the Jerusalem Municipality, is responsible for
distributing informational material, some of which has been
designed for all of the chareidi institutions in the city,
including the talmudei Torah. First- , second- and
third-graders will receive magnets displaying guidelines for
traffic safety.
The main issue in this year's campaign is gesturing to
drivers to indicate the pedestrian's intention to cross the
street. Rabbi Naeh explains that since the child is short and
often not very visible, drivers may fail to notice when he
steps into the street. Therefore children should attract
their attention using a bodily motion, such as waving a hand
in the air.
The following safety guidelines have been issued for the
summer break:
* Walk carefully on the sidewalk and stay clear of the
curb.
* Where there is no sidewalk, walk on the left-hand side of
the street, opposite oncoming traffic.
* Where there is no crosswalk, try to cross near an
intersection to increase the field of vision.
* Use reflectors when riding a bicycle or walking in the
dark.
* Bicycle riders must wear a helmet and should also wear knee-
and elbow-protectors.
* In difficult road conditions walk the bike instead of
riding.
Campaign organizers are also calling on drivers to slow down
before crosswalks and remain aware of the possibility that a
child may want to cross.
