Be vigilant, stay safe

India has the world's worst record of child safety.

41% children in India, die every year in transportation accidents.

1 child is injured or killed in India every 3 minutes

1 child is injured or killed in road accidents in India every 5 minutes.

More and more children are being molested in school buses and in schools across India every day

The new academic year is about to begin and NGOs have taken up the initiative to remind the bus drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools.

Children are vulnerable road users. They are at risk in the traffic environment because of their difficulty in judging speed and distance and the fact that they behave unpredictably.

“Motorists will need to pay extra attention with schools reopening as there are more buses and cyclists on roads and young pedestrians crossing the streets. Over the long summer break, it is easy to forget just how busy the areas around schools can get,” says Kamala whose five-year-old daughter met with an accident last year.

“I urge all motorists in the city to pay extra attention over the next few weeks to make the roads safer for children as the new school year commences,” tweeted Meher, who has a tough time dropping her children to school.

“Legally speaking 40kmph school speed zones should be in existence around all schools in Hyderabad. Speed zones around schools should be operational between 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm on school days. Police should be targeting school zones to ensure that traffic obeys the speed limit when school returns,” says Sister Agnes of St Theresa.

“It is important that drivers slow down in school zones so they are in a better position to react to the unpredictable behaviour of school children as well as the busy traffic environment,” says Pratap, a traffic constable at Himayatnagar.

But the 40kmph speed limit is alone not enough to keep children safe.

“Parents and guardians can help students remain safe by following some simple safety steps and by regularly reinforcing important road safety behaviours with their children,” says Achyuta Rao of AP Balala Hakkula Sangham.