I recently asked some middle and high school students if they still study civics. They said yes, they still learn things like "what to do when meeting adults on the street." It seems the curriculum remains quite dogmatic and formulaic, much like decades ago. However, today's citizens, especially students in the age of 4.0, AI, and daily access to technology and personal vehicles, need a broader understanding of civics than just theoretical moral standards.
Schools do incorporate traffic laws into extracurricular activities and short lessons, but it's often superficial. Meanwhile, many students ride electric scooters. I once observed traffic police penalizing students for not wearing helmets outside a local school. A quick glance revealed that over 90% of the students weren't wearing helmets.
Traffic laws directly impact students' safety and well-being. I propose reducing the time spent on theoretical moral education and replacing it with a dedicated Traffic Safety course, complete with proper instruction and examinations. Anyone wishing to operate a gasoline or electric motorbike should be at least 16 years old and possess a certificate issued through a joint assessment by the traffic police and the school.
This would not only empower students to protect themselves by following traffic laws but also enable them, along with their parents and other adults, to create a safer and more civilized traffic environment for the future.
Many students' dreams have been tragically cut short on the road, not because of intentional violations, but simply because they didn't know the rules of the road. Young people are often carefree and fearless. When given access to vehicles, they primarily focus on making them move. However, if they understood the laws and the dangers of incorrect lane usage, when to proceed, when to yield, which roads are permissible, and which are prohibited, they would be more observant and confident. Furthermore, knowing the rules would allow them to remind adults who might be intentionally breaking the law.
Vu Vu
