Central Java wins Best Mentor award for traffic safety student pioneers
The Central Java Provincial Government has achieved the First Best Mentor award at the 2026 National Selection for Traffic Safety and Road Transport Student Pioneers.
“Our hope is that these student safety pioneers, whether they are winners at the regency, provincial, or national level, will become true safety leaders—for instance, within their schools, residential areas, and families,” said Erry Derlant, Head of Road Traffic at the Central Java Transportation Agency, in Semarang on Friday.
According to Erry, the award is the result of a structured coaching programme for students, conducted progressively from the regency/city level, through to the provincial and national levels.
A notable outcome of this coaching is the achievement of Central Java’s student representatives in the competition. Fulvya Nasywa Mauliatuzzahra, a student from Al Azhar Sukoharjo High School, secured Second Place through her scientific paper.
The scientific paper was titled “Smart Environment Noise Yard Automatic Protector Based on AI and IoT for Controlling Non-Standard Exhaust Vehicles”.
Erry stated that the student coaching is not merely aimed at achieving competition success, but also at encouraging these pioneers to act as traffic safety agents within their schools, families, and local environments.
Coaching is also extended to early childhood through age-appropriate educational methods for kindergarten students. During these activities, children are introduced to traffic signs and pedestrian crossings using various learning media, including puppets.
“In addition to other students, we also engage kindergarteners using puppets. We teach the younger children to recognise traffic signs, identify crossing points, and so on,” he said.
These facilities will be utilised to provide lessons to students regarding correct and safe driving practices. “We are currently testing this in several schools. The minimum goal is for students to become familiar with correct and safe driving methods,” he added.
In the 2026 Traffic Safety and Road Transport Student Pioneer Selection, participants were assessed on several aspects. The evaluation included written tests on traffic and road transport, scientific papers accompanied by demonstration tools, participant activity, short safety videos, and administrative completeness.
Erry added that strengthening traffic safety education is crucial because accident fatality rates remain high, with a significant portion of victims belonging to the productive age group. Therefore, student coaching is expected to increase understanding and foster safe driving habits.
“Through our efforts in providing education and safety riding lessons, our hope is at least to minimise or reduce the number of accident fatalities,” he concluded.