IN Germany, traffic education begins in kindergarten when a policeman teaches the toddlers that they must observe rules. He gives them a set of toy cars and lets them play “crossing.” But they soon play “collision,” that’s okay.
In grade one, a policeman takes the class to a street. They practice crossing with and without (pedestrian) traffic lights.
The third-graders practice biking in the school court: keeping balance, driving straight and in narrow curves, signaling with one outstretched hand etc.
In grade 4 they work through a major unit on traffic for bikers after which they pass a multiple choice test. Then the teacher has to take them to the traffic kindergarten. A policeman first takes them around the parcours with crossings, junctions, one-way streets, streets with bike lanes, obstacles on a street with counter flow. Then he lets them practice with bikes. Infractions to the rules are admonished.
In grade 5 they visit Verkehrskindergaten again. This time offenders get tickets. Those with three tickets and more fail, the passers get a certificate that entitles them to use their bike from home to school. The flunkers walk until they pass a revision test.
Also in grade 5, a cop educates selected students to guide their fellow pupils over the street safely. They have a uniform and a red-white signal disk. Of course car drivers cooperate slowing down from afar.
As adults the Germans have to acquire a drivers’ license before starting a car. They have to pass theory and practice. For learning the theory they attend many lessons in a driving school and study the numerous questions in a book. The test papers are available in several languages for foreigners.
In practice the student drives a car with four pedals, two for him/her and two for the teacher. Practice includes driving by night and on a four-lane speedway. He/she learns observing courtesy, partnership and cooperation.
No drivers’ license holder would ever enter a crossing when he sees that there is a traffic jam ahead. Even the traffic light is green he/she would not advance so that the crossing traffic is not blocked.
That is why we do not need traffic enforcers in Germany. --Erich Wannemacher, German expat living in LLC
Alvarez’s claim
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s claim that there is no need for Congress to formally convene as a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution brings the House of Representatives to a new low as far as respect for democratic institutions and processes are concerned.
Not content with railroading House Concurrent Resolution No. 9, Alvarez insists that the constituent assembly is ongoing, with the House already conducting hearings on proposed revisions to the Charter.
We oppose the House leadership’s distorted and undemocratic interpretation of the Constitution and will muster the strongest and broadest opposition to it. We call on the Senate to immediately reject the House resolution for a constituent assembly and similar measures to amend or revise the Constitution.--Movement Against Tyranny