Traffic lessons with VR glasses for primary school pupils in the Amsterdam region  

Wearing VR glasses, primary school pupils virtually cycle through Amsterdam’s city centre. In this way, they practice skills such as responding to other road users, turning corners and recognising the danger of the blind spot of trucks in a safe environment.

In a drawn-up environment, which is clearly recognizable as Amsterdam, pupils aged 9 to 12 ‘cycle’ through six different situations. With the glasses on, they determine which direction they are going by moving their head. The lessons with the VR glasses are about: how to stay out of the blind spot, crossing between parked cars, anticipating road users who do not adhere to the rules, and also about using the telephone while cycling and making your own choices when cycling in a group. The environment that the children see looks a bit like computer games such as Minecraft or Roblox. Pupils who get in a collision have to start over.

Cycling over Dam square virtually

Dagmar Ochse, one of the teachers at Verkeer en Meer (Traffic and More), teaches with the VR glasses: “It is super fun to do, children are always very enthusiastic and motivated. Of course, you can’t practice everything with the glasses. For example, you can’t put out your hand out when you want to turn. It’s mainly about looking, looking around you.” The situations are recognizable as Amsterdam. Ochse: “The Dam is included in the lessons and the children recognize that. ‘There’s Madam Tussauds!’ they shout.”

Safe space

The lessons are offered for groups 6 to 8, age 9-12, and last one hour per lesson. Ochse brings 10 telephones and 10 VR glasses; the students work in groups of 2 to 3. The lessons with the VR glasses do not replace other traffic lessons. Ochse: “It is about learning the traffic rules in a safe place. This does not replace, for example, a practical cycling lesson. We do both in different types of lessons at schools. Learning comes with repetition.”
For over five years the traffic lessons with VR glasses are part of the range of traffic education for primary schools in Amsterdam and the region: Verkeer en Meer. More information about the VR lesson and other traffic education can be found at Verkeerenmeer.nl.