Shanghai, August 4—Nearly 30 students attended a Vehicle Collision Experiment Class at the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company (SMEPC) on August 4.

The activity, co-organized by the Shanghai Branch of Toyota Motor (China), SMEPC and Eastday.com, aims to popularize automotive safety and highlight the importance of traffic safety among primary and middle school students.

Before the class began, students were asked to wear a special pair of glasses and experienced what it was like to walk like a drunken person. In this way, they were able to understand the hazards of DUI and the importance of safe driving.

Students make models using different types of paper.

Afterwards, the instructors, using pictures and video materials, illustrated the principle of vehicle security configurations. Through a vehicle collision simulation, students found out how a vehicle’s buffer works.

After learning the rules for the experiment, students buried themselves making their buffer device models. Paper of different types and tools like glue and scissors were provided. All that the children needed to do was to come up with an idea to create a buffer device capable of absorbing energy.

According to the instructors, the key to making an ideal buffer device is choosing the right paper and making a structure which can easily bend out of shape, so as to disperse the energy from the collision and ensure the safety of the passengers inside the car.

To make the best buffer device, students fully tapped into their creativity and devised various kinds of structures in different shapes. Eventually, they had their models tested and were ranked according to their scores. 

Students test their models.

Wu You, a Grade 5 student, won the Creativity Prize. He considered the experiment class very interesting and helpful, as he had learned a lot about car security from it.

Zhao Xiaolei (left), Director of the International Economy & Culture Exchange Center of Eastday.com, and Hotta Masashi (right), GM of Toyota Motor China’s Shanghai Branch, present the award to the first prize winner.

Hotta Masashi, GM of Toyota Motor China’s Shanghai Branch, told the reporter, “It is a great pleasure to work with SMEPC on this project. We are glad to see so many children interested in science. We hope the activity can help raise their awareness of traffic safety. ”

Zhang Wen, who worked for the Trade Union of SMEPC, said that SMEPC has always been dedicated to promoting immersive safety education among their staff. The Vehicle Collision Experiment Class has provided a great opportunity for the children of company staff to learn about safety from a very young age.