3 hrs ago
Delhi Students Face Road Risks During Unsupervised School Journeys
Researchers studied how students in Delhi travel to school.
They asked 4,789 students between 10 and 19 years old about their daily journeys.
About two-thirds said they cross major roads by themselves.
Walking was the most common way to travel.
Many students worried about crashes and fast-moving vehicles.
Some also worried about robbery or harassment.
Girls more often reported fears of harassment, while boys more often reported concerns about robbery.
Nearly 60% did not understand many common road signs.
Researchers said safer roads, better crossings, enforcement and more engaging safety lessons could help protect students.
A study of 4,789 students across four Delhi public schools found that two-thirds cross major roads alone while traveling to school.
Walking was the dominant travel mode, reported by 80% of boys and 49% of girls on journeys home from school.
Students cited road crashes, speeding vehicles, robbery, harassment and other personal-safety concerns during their commutes.
Nearly 60% of surveyed adolescents had poor knowledge of commonly encountered road-safety signs.
Researchers called for safer infrastructure, stronger enforcement and interactive road-safety education rather than relying on adolescents alone.
- Who
- Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research, surveyed 4,789 Delhi students aged 10-19.
- What
- The study examined students’ travel modes, road-safety knowledge, safety practices and perceived risks during school commutes.
- Where
- The research was conducted at four public schools near high-crash road segments, or black spots, in Delhi.
- When
- The report was published on September 7; the study year was not specified.
- Why
- The study aimed to understand adolescents’ school-travel risks and identify ways to make their journeys safer.
Individual Behavior and Education
Safer Roads and Public Protection
How to improve school-commute safety
Individual Behavior and Education
Students need stronger road-safety knowledge and practical learning through simulations, peer education and scenario-based instruction.
Safer Roads and Public Protection
Researchers said adolescents should not bear responsibility alone; safer pathways, lighting, traffic calming, protected crossings and enforcement are also needed.
Understanding travel risks
Individual Behavior and Education
Improving students’ ability to recognize road signs and make safer decisions could address gaps in daily travel practices.
Safer Roads and Public Protection
The study emphasizes that roads and surrounding environments must be designed to protect children who walk or cycle independently.
Key facts
- Sample size
- 4,789 students aged 10-19 years
- Study setting
- Four Delhi public schools near high-crash road segments
- Independent road crossing
- Two-thirds of students crossed major roads alone on their way to school
- Walking rates
- 80% of boys and 49% of girls walked from school to home
- Road-sign knowledge
- Nearly 60% had poor knowledge of commonly encountered road-safety signs
- Helmet use
- Among motorcycle pillion riders, 39% of boys and 46% of girls reported never wearing a helmet
- Publication
- The study appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Injury Prevention
Quotes
Pratishtha Singh
Public health researcher in the Injury Division at The George Institute for Global Health
“Of those surveyed, 80 per cent of boys and 49 per cent of girls walk from school to home, often on busy roads and highways without adult supervision. Crossing major roads alone was also common, while many students who cycled also travelled independently on high-traffic roads”
theprint.in
“We cannot put the responsibility for road safety on adolescents alone. If children are walking and cycling to school, the roads and streets around them must be designed to protect them.”
theprint.in
Sources
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