Nikki Nguyen learned useful pointers from a robot yesterday on how to cross the street.

The 10-year-old from Kalihi Kai Elementary School was one of the first students to watch a safety video that featured the human-like robot ASIMO.

"It teaches kids really good things about safety and crossing the roads, especially for kids who walk to school. They need to learn how to cross the crosswalk safely," said the fifth-grader.

Nikki said she liked the funny robot character ASIMO — which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility — and his tendency to "talk too much about himself."

ASIMO is made by Honda, which donated 450 copies of the DVD to the state. The state Department of Transportation is using the video as part of its Walk Wise Hawai'i program.

Transportation officials say the DVD is an entertaining way to teach children about the dangers and realities of the roads.

Officials launched the program at Kalihi Kai Elementary because Kalihi has one of the highest rates of pedestrian accidents, said Maj. Susan Dowsett of the police department's traffic division.

From 2000 to 2004, there were 11 pedestrian accidents involving children aged 4 to 12 during school hours in the Kalihi area. One of those accidents involved a Kalihi Kai student, she said.

The video's topics include stopping at curbs, looking left-right-left, crossing streets with parked cars, crossing at intersections, traffic lights and signals, and other safety tips. The video was developed by the National Safety Council.

Janice Meeker, from the DOE's driver's education and youth traffic safety program, said about 1,000 students have already viewed the DVD.

So far the video has received a positive response from teachers and principals, she said. And, she said, "The kids love the (robot) character."

Kalihi Kai Vice Principal Ronnie Gallardo said the program will help to reinforce good pedestrian habits in students. However, she said, drivers must also be careful near schools.

"We had some incidents where JPOs (Junior Police Officers) almost got banged," Gallardo said. "I would like to stress to the public that drivers really need to watch for our children."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.