Meta Osaka Inc. held the "Traffic Safety Class & Kids Expo mini in Kashiwara" at Kashiwara City Hall on Sunday, January 19, 2025, implementing a new form of traffic safety education for the age group with high traffic accident risk, known as "the perilous age of 7."
This next-generation traffic safety class was attended by 1,500 people, with 93.5% responding that they were "glad they participated."
Utilizing Esports for Traffic Accident Prevention for "The Perilous Age of 7"
The age group known as "the perilous age of 7," in the lower grades of elementary school, is said to have the highest risk of traffic accidents, as their independent actions increase while their field of vision is narrow and their attention is easily distracted.
The number of traffic accidents in Kashiwara City was 159 in 2022, showing an increasing trend with the resumption of social activities after the COVID-19 pandemic, making a new form of traffic safety education urgently necessary.
1,500 People Attended the Event
Key Points of the Initiative
- Innovative safety education for the age group with high traffic accident risk, known as "the perilous age of 7"
- A new learning approach combining esports and traditional traffic safety classes
- Achieved participant satisfaction of 93.5%, demonstrating potential as a nationwide rollout model
- Realization of practical traffic safety education through collaboration with the police station
Comment from Doi Mayumi, Traffic Division, Kashiwara Police Station, Osaka Prefectural Police
PR TIMESI was surprised by the overwhelming response to this event combining esports and a traffic safety class, with many more people participating than expected.
What was particularly impressive was seeing parents and children learning about traffic safety while smiling and having fun.
I also feel it was a great achievement that many preschool children participated, which is different from our usual traffic safety classes.
By providing an opportunity to learn the importance of checking bicycles and wearing helmets from the time they first start riding, I believe it served as a reminder to parents about the importance of "life education" at home.
Going forward, I have high hopes for the development of games that allow children to learn about bicycle rules and nearby dangers, utilizing the geographic features unique to Kashiwara City, such as narrow roads, railroad crossings, and slopes.
If we can create a system where children can experientially learn about traffic rules and the dangers of accidents through games they love, I believe more effective traffic safety education can be achieved.
Taking this initiative as a starting point, I hope that the circle of traffic safety, which begins at home, will spread throughout the community.
Translated from Japanese.
Comment from Tomitake Masahiro, Mayor of Kashiwara City
PR TIMESThis time, utilizing the free space at City Hall, we implemented safe driving experiences using the metaverse and esports as traffic safety awareness activities, among other things.
The weather was good on the day, and I believe many people came and enjoyed themselves.
Among these activities, it was impressive to see children eagerly experiencing things like driving Police cars through esports.
I hope that experiencing things they don't usually get to experience through esports will lead to increased awareness of traffic safety in their daily lives.
Translated from Japanese.
Future Developments
Following the success of this event, Meta Osaka is planning to expand this new form of traffic safety education program to other municipalities.
This program is expected to be a new model for effective safety education by naturally drawing children's interest through the combination of esports and practical experiences.
We hope that this traffic safety education program will reach more children and lead to a reduction in accidents.
Reports on the event and more can also be found on the Meta Osaka official website.
