The 1st post-pandemic “ERMIS” programme, which was implemented at the premises of the OTEAcademy training center in Athens, was successfully completed on Saturday, 17 February, 2024. The “ERMIS” programme has been implemented by the Road Safety Institute (RSI) “Panos Mylonas” in collaboration with the Juvenile Probation Service.

The “ERMIS” programme is addressed to juvenile road traffic offenders who have been referred for training at the Institute by court decision requiring attending the programme as a correctional measure in order to acquire and consolidate knowledge of road safety and to raise awareness and develop appropriate skills for safe driving and lawful behaviour on the road.

In the theoretical part of the seminar, the lecturers were qualified instructors and psychologists of the Institute, specialised officers of the Road Traffic Police and Mr Athanasios Taratsas – Instructor of the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). The six-hour programme included additional experiential training using the Institute’s modern equipment. This equipment included, among others: roll-over simulator, Belt-sledge, driving simulator, collision weight scale, alco-goggles. The programme concluded with a discussion between the participants and Mrs Demetra Korokida, Paralympic athlete and survivor of a road crash.

The trainees were enthusiastic about the experience of the seminar and the experiential training using simulators. Their touching interest and questions to all the facilitators and their positive comments during the evaluation of the programme once again highlight the value and importance of this initiative to shape responsible road users and reduce road deaths and injuries involving young people in our country.

The event was greeted by the President of the Institute, Vassiliki Danelli- Mylona, who addressed the children, visibly moved, saying: “20 years ago my life changed radically because of a road crash. I believe there is nothing worse than what happened to me and my family. I don’t want other people to feel the loss that we are experiencing. At the Institute, we have been fighting for 19 years for a world without road crashes. I want you to see this seminar as an opportunity to rejoice in your right to life and allow your fellow human beings to do the same.” Finally, the President of the Institute welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent initiative to establish a Scientific Committee to develop a National Strategy for the prevention and treatment of juvenile violence and delinquency.

RSI would like to thank the OTEAcademy training center for supporting the holding of the seminar in its hospitable premises, as well as all the Institute’s volunteers who contributed to the seminar.