Contributing to safer mobility with young people in Pau attenting professional training centres (CFA) and the COMITÉ 64 for road safety

On December 5, 2019, over 80 young apprentices from the CFA BTP (Training Center for Construction Works Trades) and the CFA for artisanry in Pau attended a half-day road risks awareness day, organized by Total Foundation.

Every year in France around 300 students aged 15 to 19 lose their lives in a road accident. On an international scale, road accidents are the first cause of death among the 5 - 29 years age group. In the light of this unacceptable situation, the Total Foundation created a partnership with the French National Road Safety Association.

Volunteers from the Comité 64 organized different workshops on December 5, on the CFA BTP site, not far from Total’s own CSTJF site. For four hours, switching activities every so often, groups of future plumbers, painters, pastry chefs and hairdressers were confronted with different road safety scenarios presented using specific educational materials.

An employee from the Group was there on the day too, to help support the workshop organizers. She was able to give her time as part of the three voluntary days given to employees that allows them to get involved in local projects for the common good and in particular, for young people. "It’s my first assignment," she explains. "It’s very constructive to observe the difference between what young people understand of road rules and risks and what things are actually like in real life. I felt lucky to be able to contribute to this kind of mission without having any specific competencies in the field. It’s a very enriching experience."

Marc Rances, Director of the Comité 64 for the French Road Safety Association, appreciated the "financial and human support" for the sizable challenge of heightening awareness among young people. Gaetan Galleteau, Assistant Director of the CFA BP, who fully intends to include the topic of road safety in the general educational program, reiterated: "60% of occupational accidents in the construction industry happen on the road."