Traffic awareness parks to be set up in 50 Telangana schools to inculcate road safety among children

Hyderabad: The State Transport department said it is keen on reducing road accidents involving schoolchildren and will set up ‘Traffic Awareness Parks’ in 50 schools spread across 30 districts for the first phase.

For the project, the transport department has identified district-wise government and private schools to set up traffic awareness parks in coordination with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) to sensitise children about road safety measures.

Recently, Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated Hyderabad’s first-ever traffic awareness park as part of the state government’s pilot project to improve traffic safety awareness and responsible road behaviour among children.

What are traffic awareness parks?

Speaking to NewsMeter, joint transport commissioner (JTC) C Ramesh said that the traffic awareness parks will feature roads, signals and other road-related aspects to give children a sense of how traffic on roads works. Students will learn about traffic rules, traffic signals and lights, the importance of zebra crossings and numerous traffic signs and hand gestures when driving, he added.

Explaining the other features at the parks, the JTC said that variable messaging boards like LED boards will be installed at various city intersections. Traffic signals, a bus shelter and a zebra crossing will be installed with landscaping to provide children with a unique experience.

Awareness starts early

When asked about the department’s initiative behind the project, the JTC said, “In addition to causing accidents, vehicles are frequently penalised due to noncompliance with traffic rules and a lack of information. This step is being made to educate children about traffic rules from a young age.”

He said that when children are educated about traffic rules from an early age, they will adhere to the traffic rules and will also make their parents follow habits such as inculcating the habit of wearing seat belts in four-wheelers and helmets while travelling on the roads.

Therefore, roads will be considerably safer for those driving and commuters alike, he added.

15 more traffic awareness parks to come up in Hyderabad

Responding to a question about the schools where traffic awareness parks will be set up and the budget estimates, Ramesh said that work is underway in many government and private schools across the state.

In Hyderabad alone, the department has planned 15 more traffic awareness parks apart from the one recently inaugurated at DPS Nacharam. The department and the UNICEF are setting up traffic awareness parks, he said.

Slot facility for schools

“We will educate students from primary classes to Intermediate at the traffic awareness parks. Initially, at least two officials from each district will be trained to educate the students about road safety methods. We are also contemplating introducing a procedure for schools to book slots in educational institutions wherever these traffic awareness parks are going to be established in the state to make them learn traffic rules in a more practical environment,” said Ramesh.

Fatal traffic incidents in Hyderabad involving schoolchildren

January 28: A 10-year-old girl was killed in a road accident in Shaikpet when a speeding truck collided with the motorbike she was riding pillion with her father. The accident happened while her father was dropping her off at school in Manikonda. She died on the spot, while her father sustained injuries.

August 30, 2024: A Class VI student died and her mother sustained injuries after a lorry hit their scooter in Habsiguda. The student was reportedly returning home from school with her mother when the lorry, travelling from Uppal, rammed into their scooter from behind.

August 17, 2024: A Class X student lost her life and an auto-rickshaw driver was critically injured after a speeding truck collided with their vehicle at Habsiguda. The impact was so intense that the autorickshaw crashed into the RTC bus.

August 14, 2024: A 14-year-old boy, on his way home from school, was killed after he was hit by a speeding car near Ramakrishnapuram bridge in Neredmet.