Visio Onderwijs Rotterdam, a center of expertise for people with visual impairments and blindness, expressed the wish to develop a special lesson for its students. Veilig Verkeer Nederland responded to this request and, in close cooperation with the school and VVN education specialists, put together a lesson that teaches visually impaired and blind children how to deal safely with the blind spot issues surrounding large vehicles despite their visual impairment.
All groups from 1 through 8 at Visio Onderwijs Rotterdam, comprising approximately 36 students in total, took part in this blind spot lesson provided by Veilig Verkeer Nederland. The aim of the lesson is for the children to be able to behave safely around a large vehicle, using the experiences they gained during the lesson. They learn to stay to the right and well behind it by keeping at least three meters away on all sides. After the lesson, the students can name various large vehicles and explain what they need to take into account when encountering one. The students are able to recognize a large vehicle by its sound and experience its dimensions through touch. Finally, the students are able to use their hearing to assess whether they are at a sufficient distance from a large vehicle.
Research by VVN shows that almost 50% of adults stand in the blind spot of large vehicles. Moreover, most of them choose the most dangerous position near the large vehicle: directly beside the cab. Extremely dangerous. In nearly half of all blind spot accidents, this is fatal. It is therefore no coincidence that it is called the deadly blind spot. To involve parents in this subject, VVN has prepared a homework assignment so that the children can share what they have learned with their parents.