SAFETY VILLAGE PAYS OFF WITH SAFER YOUGSTERS

When it comes to safety, children usually need a helping hand. But to really learn the lessons, hands-on instruction works best. That's the beauty of Cape Girardeau's new Safety Village. Youngsters bicycle through this miniature village of traffic lights, intersecting roadways and crosswalks to learn the ABCs of traffic safety.

The Safety Village is a tribute to the efforts of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Cape Girardeau County Community Traffic Safety Program. It represents a true community project, with 15 businesses and organizations giving time, materials or money. In addition to the police department, several other city offices played key roles in the development and operation, including fire, parks and recreation, engineering and public works departments.

Tennis courts in Washington Park were transformed into the Safety Village. The classroom space has been donated by Washington School.

Fashioned after a national safety town, the local village has been several years in the planning stages. The first classes began Monday. Six two-week sessions will be offered during June and July, involving about 90 children. Total instruction is 20 hours for each class. Vacancies are still available, and interested parents can register their 5- to 8-year-old children through the city Parks and Recreation Department. Then the village will be opened up to organizations for bicycle rodeos, and area schools and day cares.

Through classroom lessons and first-hand experience, the children learn about bicycle, pedestrian, seat belt, railroad and school bus safety. The classes are taught by a uniformed police officer. As a result, the kids also learn that an officer is a friend they can turn to for help. Youngsters also receive lessons in fire and water safety, poison prevention, and electrical safety.

It's important to ingrain these safety habits at an early age. Kids learn the importance of wearing helmets and, in fact, each participant receives a helmet during "graduation." Cape Girardeau Police say most of the bicycle accidents in the city involve bicyclists running into vehicles, not the other way around.

The real success of Safety Village may be hard to measure. That's because it's impossible to count the number of accidents avoided and children saved from injury.

But rest assured, the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the traffic safety program are on the right track with the Safety Village, which seems destined to pay big dividends for the safety of our youngsters.