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Background Every day 500 children globally and 22 in India are dying in the preventable road crashes. In India 30971 road crashes happened around schools, colleges and educational institutes resulting in 12296 deaths and 29061 injuries in year 2022. School children being a vulnerable road user face various road safety challenges. Therefore, this observational study was conducted to identify the hazards involved in and around schools and results executed mitigating the risks involved to enhance road safety for children. Objective The main objective of this research was to conduct road safety environment analysis to identify the risks and hazards involved around schools and to rectify them for safeguarding school children. Programme or Practice The Highly vulnerable ten locations of schools were selected by using the attributes of Big Data Screening Tools along with comprehensive discussions with concerned stakeholders . The road safety environment analysis was done through standardised procedure of Star Ratings For Schools through iRAP methodology by a certified auditor. Post analysis, out of the ten schools where star rating was done; notable changes were done through developing partnerships with stakeholders (3M, NHAI, MC) in three schools to improve the star rating which made it safer for the children and other road users. Outcomes and Learnings There were certain significant revelations like out of ten schools assessed, eight schools had main gates with direct opening on highways. Several lapses on missing important signboards, speed limits, absence of footpaths/side walks for safety were observed. The star rating as per the methodology of iRAP was very low in majority of the schools. Implications Star rating of schools does not only evaluate and assesses the safety in and around schools, it helps in demarcating risks, prioritization for improvement and long term impact for safety of road users. Similar strategy on modifying the road environment around schools located on Highways can be done for the safety of school children. Cost effective solutions can then be implemented for its rectification. Conclusions Through iRAP - SR4S methodology we can lay ground for equitable and sustainable strategies for road traffic injury prevention of school children.
Dhunna et al. (Fri,) studied this question.