THE Davao City Council recently approved an ordinance where subjects on traffic regulations and public safety are being taught in schools.

The ordinance aims to raise the awareness of students regarding traffic regulations and public safety measures.

For grade 1 students, fire and earthquake drills topics will be included in their health subject while geohazard map and safety precautions during different weather conditions will be included in some subjects of grade 4 students.

Grades 5 and 9 students will be taught specific traffic regulations, unintentional injuries and first aid kit will be included. And for grade 10 students, earthquake hazards and effects.

Grades 11 and 12 will be taught to explain the meaning of disaster, to differentiate the risk factors underlying disasters, analyze disaster from the different perspectives such as physical, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, political and biological, among others.

With motorists in Davao City being generally stubborn (some cannot even follow the simple no parking rules), we need to raise a generation that are aware of the traffic rules around us.

When it comes to following traffic rules and understanding public safety, some adults are not a good example to younger kids. It is quite common to see here in Davao City of motorists and public utility drivers blatantly disregarding traffic rules. In a way, this has caused accidents in some areas in the city.

Meanwhile, the subjects on public safety and disaster preparedness will definitely prepare the younger generation to be ready should any disaster strike. Sometimes kids can be more alert when it comes to what needs to be done during times of emergency especially when they have been taught on what to do.

As they grow up, they will of course bring these learnings with them. Hopefully, this new generation of adults will be able to form a much stronger and resilient society. Also, we hope that there will be less erring drivers in the future and these kids would also be the ones to reprimand their parents.