A test in progress after an orientation in safe driving at the two-day Porsche Kids Driving School, which was held at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School on Sunday. (AN photo by Ghazi Mahdi)

JEDDAH, 21 May 2007 — Dozens of children took lessons in safe driving with their Porsche 911 pedal cars at a two-day event that began at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School (International British/Dutch School) yesterday.

Each batch of 15 children in the 4-8 age group was first given an orientation in traffic signs and driving and then a test on a small road-track that was set up at the school’s indoor sports complex. The track was complete with road signs, zebra crossings and traffic signals. Children drove on the track while adhering to basic road safety rules. They received the “driving license” after they were successfully tested.

“It was a fantastic experience for me, as I always dreamed of driving whenever I sat next to my father driving our car,” seven-year-old Ehulal, of class 2, said.

“I know I can never drive here, but this is an experience which I thoroughly enjoyed,” said Ilham, a class 2 girl.

This is part of the joint efforts of Porsche Middle East and Africa and Porsche Center (Saudi Arabia) in cooperation with the local traffic department in carrying out the road safety campaign targeting school children across the Kingdom until May 30. At the end of the program, which will also cover some schools in Riyadh and the Eastern Province, more than 500 children of different nationalities will have benefited from this entertaining and educational effort.

“For us this is a welcome feature as we are preparing ourselves for the school’s 40th anniversary,” said Trevor Wighton, finance manager at Jeddah Prep and Grammar School.

“This is in the true spirit of ‘catch them young’ and surely the effort will go a long way in disciplined driving when they grow up,” a school instructor said.

“Our relentless strive toward excellence and perfection is not bound to the cars we sell. It continues through a variety of motoring activities, most important of which is safety,” said David Matta, general manager of Porsche Center (Saudi Arabia).

“Since educating children about safety, especially in a joyful and passionate automotive atmosphere, has profound and long term benefits, we never hesitated in collaborating with Porsche Middle East & Africa in this innovative road safety campaign. We are confident that the effectiveness of this program will be immediate, enormous and long lasting,” he said.