Colourful traffic cones, small scooters and excited children’s voices: at a primary school near Kecskemét, around 100 kilometres south-east of the Hungarian capital Budapest, it is no ordinary school day. Instead of mathematics and geography lessons, the children are taking part in a MobileKids action day dedicated to road safety. At the heart of it all is Moki, the MobileKids mascot, who has stopped off in Hungary as part of the world tour marking the programme’s 25th anniversary.
At five exciting activity stations, Moki teaches pupils how to stay safe in traffic. After a warm welcome, the children set off in small groups – and the “Moki Pentathlon” begins.
Learning Through Movement
Each station focuses on a different topic. The children learn why visibility is important in traffic, how to cross roads safely, and what to pay attention to on their way to school. Cycling also plays a key role: What protective equipment is necessary? How should a bicycle be equipped? And why is attentiveness so important in road traffic?
The children are constantly encouraged to ask questions, try things out for themselves and assess situations together. As in other countries, MobileKids in Hungary takes a practical approach. The aim is not simply for children to memorize rules, but to understand how to apply them in everyday life.
This approach proves particularly effective during the action day at the primary school, and the “Moki Pentathlon” is a great success. Full of energy, the pupils ride scooters through the specially designed traffic course or correctly assemble road signs. After completing each station, they receive a stamp in their booklet. With every new stamp, the page fills up – and at the end, a reward awaits.
“What I liked most was that we could try out so many things ourselves,” says one pupil after the event. “And of course I recognized Moki straight away.”
Road safety is a particularly important issue for children in Hungary. Every year, approximately 1,000 to 1,500 children nationwide are injured in road traffic accidents. Special attention is paid to the journey to and from school. According to studies conducted by the Institute for Transport Sciences (KTI), around 41 per cent of all pedestrian accidents occur at zebra crossings.
As many children travel to school on foot, by bicycle or by scooter, road safety education is essential from primary school age onwards. This is exactly where MobileKids comes in: the initiative raises awareness among Hungarian children of potential dangers and teaches them, through engaging activities, how to move safely in traffic – both as pedestrians and as cyclists.
Gifts for Everyday Safety
The action day forms part of MobileKids’ long-standing history in Hungary.
“We have now spent 13 years teaching the youngest children the most important road safety skills,” says Agnes Wachter from the MobileKids team, who supports the activities on site. “Our goal is for children to have fun while genuinely learning something valuable – and we make every effort to communicate that in a way they understand.”
At the end of the day, one final surprise awaits. A large wing door opens and Moki once again steps into the playground. To help children remember the day, the mascot hands out small gifts designed to accompany them in everyday traffic situations: a neon-yellow sports bag to improve visibility, reflective stickers and wristbands, a safety vest and a certificate recognizing their successful completion of the “Moki Pentathlon”.
With bright smiles, the children gather around Moki, delighted to exchange countless high-fives with their blue star guest.
“It was brilliant,” says one pupil enthusiastically.
Many More Stops to Come
Moki’s journey through Hungary is far from over. During the anniversary year, MobileKids will visit a total of 25 schools in the Kecskemét region, including special educational needs schools and facilities supporting disadvantaged children. In total, more than 3,600 children are expected to benefit from the programme.
Moki is also making appearances beyond the school environment. At the Kecskemét Children’s Festival, visitors enjoyed competitions, small surprises and numerous hands-on activities for all ages.
Following the stay in Hungary, Moki packs the suitcase once again. The world tour continues – with many new experiences gathered along the way, but with the same objective: helping children all over the world navigate road traffic more safely.
Through MobileKids, Mercedes-Benz combines its commitment to safety with social responsibility for the next generation.
What began as local road safety activities has grown into an international programme promoting safe mobility for children and young people – ranging from educational initiatives and infrastructure projects to strengthening road safety within society as a whole.
School visits, experiential learning opportunities, teaching materials and digital formats have shaped MobileKids over many years and made the programme visible in numerous countries around the world.
To celebrate its anniversary, MobileKids and Moki are now embarking on a global journey, bringing the programme’s diverse activities around the world to life.