Via Salis promotes road safety through the organization of a drawing contest for pupils on the theme “Safety and safe journey to school”
Via Salis, a member of VINCI Highways’ network, has participated to its first Safety Week – an event organized by VINCI Concessions for all airports, highways and railways of its network in 24 countries. The event aims at raising awareness of staff and other stakeholders on themes related to road prevention, mental health and safety at work. As the first private operator in charge of a PPP project in the Czech Republic, road safety is one of the major priority of the company.
“As road safety is one of VINCI’s top priorities, we decided to extend the Safety Week in the Czech Republic and to bring the idea of promoting safety to the public. This year we started with children and reached out to all primary schools in the towns and villages located in the area of the D4 motorway completion, from Příbram to Písek,” says Christian Biegert, the company’s CEO. A total of 40 schools were approached to enter the “Safely back to school” art competition. The first-grade pupils were then asked to draw what safety and a safe journey back to school means to them in their individual classes.
The winner of the main prize was decided by a jury headed by the well-known Czech artist, painter, writer and actress in one person – Iva Hüttnerová. The jury also included Michaela Žemličková, an artist from České Budějovice, and Senator Tomáš Fiala, elected from the South Bohemia Region, who is close to children because he is otherwise a very successful doctor – a paediatrician.
The winning picture was painted by a 4th grade pupil of the J.K. Viola Vlasatá. “The picture is painted with watercolours, which is a much harder technique than crayons. The bus is nicely positioned in front of the school and the mountains on the horizon and the old log cabin are also carefully painted,” commented Iva Hüttnerová on the winning work. Another jury member Michaela Žemličková praised the attention to detail, which is often a decisive factor in preventing traffic accidents. “Children see the world around us differently than we adults, especially in a much more colourful way,” added Senator Tomáš Fiala.
Viola Vlasatá will share the main prize with the whole class. They can choose from three interesting trips or excursions. And the offer is really interesting – a visit to the Prague Zoo, a tour of the National Technical Museum or a trip to the Chocotopia Chocolate Museum. As an added bonus, pupils will receive colourful reflective shoelaces and reflective arm bands.
Via Salis and DIVia stavební employees who attended Safety Week activities also voted on the best and “safest” picture. The employee award went to Anna Krsnokutska from the E. Beneš Primary School in Písek.
About Via Salis
Via Salis is a joint venture between VINCI Concessions and Meridiam, which will manage the first PPP project in the Czech Republic involving the design, financing, construction and maintenance of 32 km of new motorway and the extension of an existing 16 km section of motorway.
About VINCI Highways
VINCI Highways, a VINCI Concessions subsidiary, is a leader in road concessions, operation and mobility services. We design, finance, build and operate motorways, bridges, tunnels, urban roads and toll services on a network of nearly 4,000 km in 16 countries. VINCI Highways leverages its expertise to deliver the highest performance and safety standards, and to treat drivers to a positive experience.
