Increased Road Safety – All over the World

Volkswagen produces vehicles of the highest quality and reliability, resulting in the highest level of safety for customers. But closing a sale is not the end of our responsibilities. On the contrary, whether our customers are in Mumbai, Beijing, or Wolfsburg, we provide them with targeted training to help them feel safe while driving. The worrying figures in international accident statistics, especially from emerging economies, have led us to respond in this manner. The Volkswagen Group is actively engaging with various traffic-training programs tailored to the individual markets – our motto is: “Every traffic-related death is one too many.” The Group includes the German market in these efforts, of course. The Autostadt in Wolfsburg – which offers a world of experience in these matters as well as a communication platform for all things to do with mobility – has a “Learn Park” for children 5 to 11 years old and offers them the chance to obtain a “child driver’s license.” Meanwhile, in the “safety training track,” parents experience first-hand that a cautious driving style not only increases safety but is also good for the environment.

It is the youngest on the road who warrant our attention – A common image is of a child running after a ball onto the road, and maybe even in front of a car. Working together with schools, clubs, and public services, the various Group brands are providing different measures all over the world to help protect people. Approximately 100,000 children at the Cordoba and Pacheco sites have been trained in the ABCs of how to behave in traffic using the role-playing as well as the successful traffic education project “Juegoteca Volkswagen de Seguridad Vial,” developed by Volkswagen Argentina together with local schools.

Some sites are also campaign for more safety on roads leading to schools, which are particularly problematic, as well as investing in play areas and the improvement of pedestrian crossings. But what use are the ABCs to children if adults have not learned the basics? Three out of four children in the United States are not buckled in correctly: a statistic that can prove fatal in the event of an accident. Volkswagen of America is using the “SitSafe” program to train their customers in the correct use of child safety seats and seatbelts.

At Volkswagen, traffic safety is not limited to passenger cars. The Group is also involved with safety in the area of commercial vehicles and offers specific traffic and loading safety training. This is what Scania has based its worldwide competition “Young European Truck Driver” on and receives support from the European Commission and the International Road Transport Union for its efforts. Participants not only learn something about traffic safety but also train to make their driving style more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Even beyond our production sites, our importers are busy working on increased traffic safety, for example the Turkish Volkswagen importer Dogus-Otomotiv, whose program “Traffic Is Life” raises awareness among Turkish drivers about safety in traffic. This includes an advertisement campaign that receives a lot of attention as well as exhibitions, concerts, and even rap festivals. The importer is even working closely with the Turkish government to improve traffic safety.

As the examples in Turkey and Argentina show, the Volkswagen Group is looking to contribute toward traffic safety by keeping their customers aware – not only about the safety equipment fitted into their vehicles, but also on how their own behavior can increase traffic safety.

Each year there are 90,000 deaths on the roads in China – that is 7.5 percent of all road deaths around the world: the darker side of China’s automotive boom. As it is the most successful automotive producer in China, Volkswagen has acknowledged its responsibility and has revived a classic solution from German road safety. The traffic education series “The Seventh Sense” once served to raise awareness among Germans about road safety issues. It is now experiencing a successful comeback in China with the title “Drive Safely, Drive the Volkswagen Way” – 40 episodes of this series have been shown to date and they are enormously popular in China.

Why the seatbelt is so important; what to do when an accident has occurred; and why you should pay special attention to more vulnerable road users are among the key issues presented to the audience. Particularly noteworthy is that the episodes are not only very entertaining but also very educational. The series came into being by working closely with traffic experts from the Tongji and Jilin universities. Interviews with psychologists, use of case studies, and also appearances by prominent local TV stars have ensured that Chinese road safety education is enjoyable to watch and has a lasting effect. The series started in 2008 and is broadcast primarily by television stations in the east of China and in the large cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Dalian, where there are large populations and a high number of passenger vehicles. The employees of Volkswagen Group China have often been invited behind the scenes of the series with the aim of raising awareness about traffic safety. The extravagant TV castings have also become a true television spectacle. Child actors have been selected from among the sons and daughters of employees.

Volkswagen is continuously offering its Chinese employees regular training programs on traffic safety using alternative media. The “Family Day for Traffic Safety Among Children” is just one example. In addition, Volkswagen dealers in China offer their customers practical safety training using professional driving instructors.

“By engaging so extensively, Volkswagen AG is taking responsibility for society and is contributing toward sustainable development in China,” said Dr. Zhang Suixin, Vice President of the Volkswagen Group China.