Delhi To Host Two Day Meet On Safety In Transporting Of School Children

About 200 Eminent road safety experts and stakeholders from Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, state transport departments, CBSE, NCERT, Ministry of Human resources, Schools and Fleet Operators, Research Organisations, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Asia and the Pacific and  World Health Organization (WHO) will take part in the Two day conference on ‘Formulation of Draft Policy for the Safety of Transporting School Children’ to be held in the national capital Delhi on April 29-30, 2019 at India Habitat Centre.

“The Two-day Conference is aimed at developing a policy document for India and South East Asia to incorporate the following domains: roles and responsibility, road environment, vehicle factors, standard operating procedures as well as the curriculum of training of important stakeholders dealing with the transportation of school children in all modes of transport including both motorised and non-motorised means, enforcement, and post-crash management. “ said Dr Rohit Baluja President, Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE),

“As far as India is concerned, the data provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India also highlights that 10,000 children below the age of 18 and 35,000 young adults between 19 and 25 are killed in road accidents every year. During the year 2018 about 655 children below the age of 18 years mostly school going children died in road accidents in Delhi alone” said Dr Baluja.

“There is a compelling need to consider other modes of transport. Children reach school using multiple modes of transportation, including cars, vans, bicycles, bicycle & E-rickshaws, auto- rickshaws, powered two-wheelers, animal pulled vehicles and walking.” said  Dr Baluja.

This  conference is a clarion call to highlight the vulnerability of school going children, mainstream issues, identify stakeholders, outline their role and responsibilities, share national and international best practices, explore communication and technological innovations and consider possible solutions to arrive at comprehensive policy document and an implementation action plan that ensures”” he added.