BHPetrol, the Malaysian petroleum brand, has been tirelessly working on efforts to raise road safety awareness among primary schoolchildren for some time now. And in 2019, for the tenth consecutive year, BHPetrol has spread the interest and focus of the local community in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.
This year’s awareness programme was held in SK Kementah Kuala Lumpur where over 1,000 students participated in various road safety activities which complements the current road safety education curriculum taught in schools.
Part of BHPetrol’s Corporate Social Responsibility
The programme, which was carried out recently, is part of BHPetrol’s Corporate Social Responsibility and focuses primarily on the importance of being visible on the road. The idea behind the programme originated in 2010, when BHPetrol felt that there was very little awareness on road safety initiatives for young children particularly in the non-urban areas.
Since then, the Cerah Ceria programme has travelled extensively within Peninsular Malaysia to schools in Sabak Bernam, Hulu Langat, Pelabuhan Klang, Muar, Temerloh, and the latest in Kementah Kem Kuala Lumpur. Thousands of primary schoolchildren have benefitted from the programme.
Focus on being visible
The focus on visibility stems from the fact that young children are physically small and not easily visible to drivers, in particular, drivers of huge vehicles such as petroleum tankers. The program stresses the importance of seeing and being seen as well as equipping children with essential road safety skills and knowledge.
Aptly named ‘Cerah Ceria Bersama BHPetrol’, the program uses the firefly as its road safety icon to convey to children and adults signifying that despite its size, it is bright and visible from afar.
Practicing safe behaviour on the road
All 9 activities for children help them to understand the importance of being visible and practicing safe behaviour on the road. Some of the activities include stopping distance of vehicles, 5 steps to cross safely, physical limitations, wearing bright clothing and cycling safely. BHPetrol employees were involved in the activities.
Every year, as part of the programme, a short road safety talk is also given by the local district Traffic Police or by the road safety department. This year, Azharul Izwan Puaadi, the Federal Territory Director of Road Safety Department, addressed the students on the importance of being safe on the roads and following traffic rules.
The event was also attended by Fardzi Shah Razali, General Manager, Operations and HSSE of Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd, and Leftenan Kolonel Azizul bin Abdul Kadir, Kem Kementah Commanding Officer.
“Over the last 10 years, we have continuously inculcated the importance of safety amongst the schoolchildren through Cerah Ceria Bersama BHPetrol programme. We hope the activities organized have increased the students’ understanding to become more cautious towards their safety at all times,“ said Encik Fardzi Shah Razali.
Essential part of the children’s learning
The programme has been warmly received as an essential part of the children’s learning and educational process. The annual programme dedicated to school children has been creating a lasting impression in the minds of young students, parents and teachers.
BHPetrol firmly believes that the programme develops these young minds to be ever more conscientious in practicing safe behaviour on the road which may contribute significantly towards reducing road deaths and injuries among primary schoolchildren.
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