ROAD SAFETY ASPECTS FOR VULNERABLE

GROUP (CHILDREN) INCLUDING CHILDREN

WITH DISABILITIES

MAJOR OBJECTIVE(S)

a)Identify barriers to children movement near school

premises;

b)Document & record the accessibility of the road and

street infrastructure;

c)Develop solutions for eliminating these barriers;

d)Outlines for the guidelines of safe accessibility of the

road for children Promote research on user friendly

designs

METHODOLOGY

Interviews with experts in the related field

On the basis of their experiences and discussions questionnaires were developed along with the Samarthyam (National Centre for Barrier Free Environment)

On the basis of the experience shared with the experts of Vulnerable group including Children with Disabilities (Cw.D) school children of two schools i.e. Blue Bell School and special school Action for Ability Development and Inclusion (A.A.D.I.), formerly Spastics Society of Northern India were selected for the present study.

Moreover, about 500 meters approach/around school premises of both the schools were selected for the study for identification of different access barriers near school premises

Then data of opinion survey were gathered in order to gain a detailed depiction of the teachers and students experiences of being pedestrian.

The data were eventually grouped and organized, which were synthesized and summarized into an interpretive framework.

INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS IN THE RELATED

FIELD

Opinion by the Experts from the Sense

International

Opinion by the Experts from the Action for

Autism

Opinion by the Experts from Muskaan

Representative (Parent Association for the

Welfare of Children with Mental Handicap)

Observations by Traffic Police Personnel

WHY THESE SCHOOL’S WERE CHOSEN?

This road stretch is very much area of concern for safety

aspect as this area joins three schools (Bluebells School

International, Tagore International School, and Government

School) and one college (Lady Sri Ram College)

ACCESS AUDIT OF BLUEBELLS SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL OUT SIDE SCHOOL

S.No. Audited Area

1 Footpath

2 Road Signs

3 Parking Facilities

4 Problems of Encroachment ( if any)

5 Bus Stand Facilities

6 Entrance to the school

7 Road side accessible features

OBSERVATION OF FOOTPATHS CHARACTERISTIC

i. Pathways were not wide enough to cater the needs

of pedestrians even wheeling space was not

provided for a wheelchair user.

ii. Surface of the footpath was not even, not

continuous, without appropriate warning and

guided tiles for the persons with disabilities.

OTHER OBSERVED PROBLEMS

Zebra crossing are not designed between Gate –I and Gate-II and near Gate-III of the school so that children are facing difficulty in cross

Garbage area near Gate –III is situated which is inviting cattles which are creating havoc to ongoing traffic and also dangerous for children. Recently it has come in the Newspaper ref: HT, June 2008 that a cow gored to death an elderly person.

NO PARKING SIGN is not placed adjoining to the school wall.

Speed limit sign /red blinker are not introduced from both of the side of the school.

OBSERVATION OF ROAD SIGNS/SIGNALS

Road sign related to school ahead was absent

Road sign of No Parking (near school gate) was

not present.

Traffic signals near Gate III were not properly

visible

OBSERVATION OF BUS STAND FACILITIES

• Manual Assistance was required by passengers for crossing the

road

• No Textual/ audio cues were present for identifying bus stop and

passenger wait for the bus much before/beyond the exact

location of boarding

• No Bus Route map was provided so it was difficult to identify the

bus route and bus number

• Road users /passengers and passer by pedestrians were using

the road to walk and wait for the bus as condition of the bus

stand is not suitable for waiting inside the bus shelter (Bus

shelters’ roof).

• Curb cuts were lacking on the bus shelters on the both bus

stands (of both side of the road)

UNAUTHORIZED PARKING

Adjacent walls of the school premises were blocked

with parked cars hence the school children,

teachers; other pedestrians using the pathways

were compelled to come on the road to face heavy

traffic.

PRESENCE OF GARBAGE NEAR GATE-III

Presence of Garbage dump

near Gate –III was observed

Stinky smell and Unhygienic

conditions causing threat to the

health of children and other

road users

and

Cattles were attracted which

were creating safety hazards for

children

PROBLEMS OF ENCROACHMENT ON

PEDESTRIAN WALKING AREA

Use of cycle rickshaw as a mode of transport

PROBLEMS OF VENDORS

Vendors were creating encroachment problems

near pedestrian walkways and also block road side

areas

Children gather around those vendors near

school premises and collide with ongoing traffic

RISK TAKING BEHAVIOUR OBSEREVED NEAR

SCHOOL PREMISES

Near the school though traffic of the intersections were controlled by the traffic signals and traffic police personnel but risk taking practices were often observed during the survey like crossing the road between ongoing traffic to save time and reaching fast to the destinations which increased the chances of accidents.

Pedestrians of all age groups, genders, senior citizens, women with children, school going children, laborers with heavy loads were observed to cross the road between heavy ongoing traffic.

RISK TAKING BEHAVIOUR OBSEREVED NEAR

SCHOOL PREMISES

NOT USING ZEBRA CROSSING WHILE CROSSING

THE ROAD

It has come out from the opinion survey

report that 82% of the students do not use

zebra crossing while crossing the road during

school hours

The reason behind this when asked they said

that they have to walk to the end of the road to

find zebra crossing near their school premises.

THE OPINION SURVEY OF BLUE BELLS SCHOOL

STUDENTS

SAMPLE

Questionnaire was distributed among 148

students i.e. 59 students of 12 to 14 years age

group and 89 students of 14 to 16 years age

group and 13 teachers also expressed their

views about the outside road environment.

MODE OF TRANSPORT

45

35

10 10

Private vehicles

School Bus

Walking

Other

OPINION SURVEY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

S.NO. Question Options %

Q1a

Do you have to cross the

road while

Arriving at the school 51

Departure from the school 49

Q1b

How do you cross the road?

With Parents 79

With Teachers 1

With Security Guards 1

With Senior Students 18

2

Do you cross the road from

zebra crossing

yes 18

no 82

3

Why do you not cross from

zebra crossing

There is no Zebra crossing near

school premises 22

You have to walk to the end of the

road to find zebra crossing 78

4

Do you think the road facing

to your school is having

Very High Traffic Volume 53

High Traffic Volume 35

Medium Traffic Volume 9

Low Traffic Volume 3 5

Do you find Traffic Policemen

present near school

premises while the

departure from your school

Always 3

Sometimes 40

Rarely 35

Never 22

6

What is your observation

regarding the behavior of

motorists/drivers towards

the pedestrian near your

school premises

Very Aggressive 16

Somewhat Aggressive 34

Neutral 47

Friendly 1

Very Friendly 1

8

Do other

pedestrians/road users

help you if you have any

problem/fell accidently

on the road?

Always 20 14

Sometimes 59 40

Rarely 27 18

Never 42 28

9

Do traffic policemen

help you if you fell

accidently on the road?

Always 34 23

Sometimes 30 20

Rarely 34 23

Never 50 34

10

Are there any footpath

adjoining your school

premises?

Yes 114 77

No 34 23

11

How do you find walking on the

footpath/road?

Very Comfortable 7

Comfortable 32

Uncomfortable 44

Very Uncomfortable 18

12

If your answer is "uncomfortable"

or "Very Uncomfortable" then why

do you find walking difficult?

Surface of the road is uneven 28

Full of Packed Cars 52

Not proper width for walking 16

Other please specify 4

13

How do children catch the bus

after the closure of the school

Running 24

Walking 39

Queuing in the line 33

Other activity if any 4

14

How other children cross the road

after the closure of the school

Running 36

Walking 56

Making Queuing 5

Other activity if any 2

15

Overall, how do you perceive the

road user behaviour towards you

and other children

Very aggressive/not yielding 13

Somewhat aggressive 34

Neutral 49

Friendly 2

Very Friendly 2

16

Overall, how do you perceive the

children's behaviour towards other

road users?

Very aggressive/not yielding 7

Somewhat aggressive 15

Neutral 59

Friendly 12

Very Friendly 7

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No. Description YES

%

NO %

1 Are the road crossing and Lay outs appropriate for road width? 23 77

2 Is forward visibility of road crossing acceptable? 46 54

3 Are school children be masked by street furniture, guardrails, trees or On-carriageway obstructions? 31 69

4 Are traffic signals visible to Children? 54 46

5 Are there any pedestrian facilities sited?

0 100 6 Is the length of the green man phase present at

traffic signal if yes then is the time period is appropriate? 46 54

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No.

Description YES

%

NO %

7 Street lights are appropriate at night? 54 46

8 Is additional lighting required? 77 23

9 Are dropped kerbs provided and well

located? 15 85 10 Is tactile paving for persons with vision

impairment provided? 0 100 11 Is there sufficient footway width for

pedestrian with prams available? 0 100 12 Is there sufficient footway width for

wheelchairs, crutch user/any other

mobility aid user? 0 100

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No.

Description YES %

NO %

13 Are crossing widths wide enough?

46 54 14 Are staggered facilities orientated "left/right"?

23 77

15 If staggered, will 'U' turn, left turn, right turn

vehicles conflict with pedestrians?

38 62

16 Is anti skid surfacing provided on footpath? 38 62

17 Do signal poles unduly Obstruct the footway?

31 69

18 Do signal poles have adequate clearance from the

carriageway? 38 62

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No. Description YES

%

NO %

1 9 Do posts or rails have sharp edges, protrusions or parts that can entrap children or mobility aid users? 62 38

20 Are inspection covers located in likely travel paths? 8 92 21 Are bus lane widths sufficient? 15 85 22 Are contra-flow bus lane clearly signed and

marked? 46 54 23 Are there adequate signs and markings? 46 54 24 Is the layout of any special bus signals adequate? 23 77 25 Are bus cages likely to cause obstruction? 23 77 26 Could the location of a bus stop force general traffic

to cross the centre line at unsafe locations? 23 77 27 Do the locations of any bus stops significantly affect

forward visibility? 54 46 28 Do the locations of any bus stops adversely affect

cycle tracks and shared paths? 54 46 29 Are there adequate waiting areas for pedestrians

around bus stops? 38 62

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No. Description YES %

NO %

30 Do any parking obscure children/pedestrian’s

crossing points? 46 54

31 Does wrong side parking affect forward

visibility? 46 54

32 Does wrong side parking create an unsafe

chicane effect? 38 62

33 Does any side road parking cause obstruction

to entering/ aggressing traffic? 69 31

34 Do any parking obstruct inside "through" lane

where right turning takes place? 46 54

35 Does any parking obstructs crossovers or

dropped kerbs? 38 62

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No.

Description YES %

NO %

36 Does any parking obstruct cycle facilities? 69 31 37 Are there any parking

Unsafely sited with respect to refuges? 46 54 38 Does any parking

create problems at bus stops? 69 31 39 Will evening/night time parking cause

obstruction? 54 46 40 Has the parking sufficient width to enable

the safe opening of a stopped vehicle door? 31 69

STUDY RESULTS OF TEACHERS OBSERVATION

Item No.

Description YES %

NO %

1 Are road signs /markings near school

premises adequate and unambiguous? 31 69

2 Is there adequate provision for persons

with reduced mobility (specifically

children, the elderly) and persons with

disability? 15 85

3 Is vegetation/garbage likely to obstruct

sight lines, forward visibility or pedestrian

movement? 23 77

4 Is there any provision of anti-skid

surfacing at conflict points and bends

adequate? 23 77

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Bluebells School International bluebels@rediffmail.com

Sent: Thursday, 26 April, 2007 2:07:19 PM

Subject: Bluebells School International 26.04.2007

To

Dr.P.K Nanda

Director CRRI, Mathura Road

New Delhi-20

Kind Attention: Dr.S.Gangopadhyay.

Subject: Seminar on Road Safety for children of Bluebells School International.

Dear Sir,

Please allow us to express our profound thanks for educating our students in Road Safety. We

are all Road users at some time, whether as drivers, cyclists, pedestrians or passengers. Road

safety is an issue that affects us all. Thanks a lot for the film, which we are going to show to all

students of the School.

Our special thanks to Dr.Neelima Chakraboty and Dr. Nishi Mittal for their efforts in organizing

such an important seminar. We are sorry for the small mishap on the part of the school in

sending you a double load of students. We are going to be more careful next time and are

looking forward enthusiastically for collaborating with you in future.

Thanking you again,

Yours sincerely,

(Mrs G.Soni)

Manager

Bluebells School International

Kailsh, New Delhi.

GUIDELINES OF UNIVERSAL

ACCESSIBLE DESIGNS

GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUSES

The school buses should be fitted with illuminated signs and drivers should

slow down to 40 km/h near school premises.

School buses are painted a glossy yellow to assist in their visibility

Some states require traffic to stop when a stationary bus has its red lights

flashing

Vehicles passing school buses at bus stops are required to slow to 25 km/h.

The standard should be the hazard warning device that is required under

the Transport Regulations.

Improvements include installing flashing lights, emergency two-way

communication equipment and first aid training and kits for all school bus

drivers.

A driver's line of sight is diminished by a large bus and a child darting across

from behind or in front of the bus cannot be seen. Drivers too should be

educated to slow down and take more care around stationary buses.

The RTO has to be developed a uniform standard for lights and signage for

use on school buses. These measures will assist drivers to be more aware

of school buses and drive more appropriately.

GUIDELINES FOR SAFE MOVEMENTS OF

CHILDREN

Waiting areas should be introduced near school gate; these

are designated areas, marked by painted lines on the footpath, which are safe for children.

Young children should be guided by the school guards or attendants or teachers and they should be taught to wait by making a queue this area until they board on the bus.

Parents or guardians collecting children from bus stops should be made aware of this and taught to pick up the children from the bus stop itself, not asking them to cross the road to where they have parked the car and are waiting.

Children and parents / caretakers / guardians need to be educated about the dangers of crossing the road while the bus is still stationary.

SIGNAGE

Signage includes direction signs, signs of locality, street names

and numbering, information signs, road signs etc.

Overhanging advertising /road signs on the pedestrian path of

travel should be mounted above 2100 mm from the floor level

and properly lit at night

Font sizes between 100 to 170mm distinguishable at a 3

meters distance

Individual characters between 15mm to 50mm tall ,raised by

1to 1.5mm,bold and colour contrasted which their back ground

and also in Braille

All information signage should be supplemented by bright

coloured symbols and /or pictograms which help person with

mental retardation also

Accessible places and facilities should be clearly identified by

the international accessibility symbol

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS/SIDEWALKS

Must be easy to follow and obstruction free for the

convenience of all users

Surface should be smooth and leveled,

continuous, firm, non-slip and even

Every change in level on the pathway (a step ,

curbs or road works) should be made clearly visible

through the use of bright contrasting colours.

The minimum width of a clear unobstructed

pathway should be 2000mm and height not more

than 150 to 180mm

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS/SIDEWALKS

Fencing on the sidewalks to have rounded top, to

prevent injuries

Use of bollards (height 100mm minimum with

clear minimum gap of 900 mm.) to protect

sidewalks from parked vehicles

Bollards should be painted in a contrasting colour

or in coloured strips

FLOORING

Warning (dot /blistered blocks) strip provides warning

signals to screen off obstacles, drop offs or other hazards,

to discourage movement in an incorrect direction and to

warn of a corner or junction. These should be placed

300mm at the beginning and end of the ramps, stairs and

entrance.

Tactile floor blocks should be provided to orient

persons with low vision, vision impairment and deaf-

blind

These blocks should have a colour (preferably

canary yellow), which contrast with the surrounding

surface

Guide path (line blocks) has straight continuous

line and indicate the correct path/route to follow,

leading to building entrances, and amenity ,bus stop

etc. and should not be located close to manholes or

drains to avoid confusions or persons with vision

impairments

FLOORING

FOR ACCESSIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN

Pavements should be dropped, at a gradient not greater than 1:10 on both sides of necessary and convenient crossing points. Width should not be less than 1200mm.

Warning strips to be provided on the curb side edge of the slope, so that a person with vision impairment does not accidently walk into the road.

THE SURVEY OF TRANSPORT PROBLEMS FACED BY

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN DELHI

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Me

nta

l …

Me

nta

l Illn

ess

Au

tism

Ce

reb

ral P

als

y

De

af-

Blin

d

Mu

ltip

le …

Blin

dn

ess

Lo

w-V

isio

n

He

ari

ng …

Lo

co

mo

tor …

An

y O

the

r

11 11 11

56

11

%

Impairment Type Among Females

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Me

nta

l …

Me

nta

l Illn

ess

Au

tism

Ce

reb

ral P

als

y

De

af-

Blin

d

Mu

ltip

le …

Blin

dn

ess

Lo

w-V

isio

n

He

ari

ng …

Lo

co

mo

tor …

An

y O

the

r

23

4 8

54

12

%

Impairment Type Among Males

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

self escorted

77

23

56

44

%

Perform Walking Trips

DEPENDENCY IN COMMUTING

Male Female

Percentage Opinion Regarding Other Road User’s

Helping Attitude Towards Them

Options Male Female

Always 4 22

Rarely 73 33

Never 23 44

S. No. Access Audit of Following Areas Conducted

1. Approach and Main Gate

2. Parking

3. General Circulation Areas-Traffic corridors

4. Signage

5. Ramps whether available

6. Bus Stand or other facilities available

OBSERVATION OF FOOTPATH

Pictures showing Footpaths Surface (30th May, 2007)

PERCENTAGE OPINION REGARDING WHETHER

FOOTPATHS ARE USER-FRIENDLY

Options Male Female

Always 12 11

Rarely 62 33

Never 27 56

OPINION SURVEY ON ADEQUATE WAITING

AREA ON FOOTPATH ON BUS STOPS

Option Male Female

Always 12 11

Rarely 69 33

Never 19 56

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY RESULTS

After audit suggestions, MCD has provided

ramps and accessible refuge area in the

crossing opposite the building. Sidewalks also

have a strip of tactile tiles (guiding and

warning) for persons with vision impairment.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY RESULTS

GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSIBLE SIGN BOARDS

Two sign boards mentioning school name with directional arrows should

also be installed

Before 200 meters on both side of the road in appropriate place so that

these should be visible for the motor vehicle drivers and they can slow

down.

Sign board should be mounted above 2100mm from the ground level

Sign boards should be bright in colour contrast and bold /large lettering

with font size 100-170mm.

One tactile map explaining school building area should be place outside

wall of the school gate within accessible reach of the pedestrians so that

persons with visual impairment can access the school premises easily.

ACCESSIBLE BUS SHELTERS

Bus shelters should be in contrast colour with proper illumination

Anti skid tiles for flooring should be provided

Tactile floor tiles –guiding path & warning strip and audio beeper for

persons with low vision and vision impairment. Warning tactile strip

shall be placed 300 mm before and after the ramp leading to it

The pavement having curb ramps on both sides should have handrails

at two levels 750-850 mm, with ends rounded

Braille metal plates bearing the name of the bus shelter on all the hand

rails (four sides) ,shall be placed for persons with vision impairment

e.g. low vision and deaf blind.

ACCESSIBLE BUS SHELTERS

Priority seats (ht. 480 mm from the floor level) to have pictograms

for senior citizens/persons with reduced mobility and disabled

persons.

Reserved area for at least two wheelchair users shall be at one

corner together, with access symbol painted on the ground and at

the back.

Bollards to stop misuse by motorists should be provided on

pavement.

PEDESTRIAN REFUGES On two way roads, at side road junctions and at

major intersections, pedestrian refuge to have

access features such as :

Ramp 1200mm. minimum wide on raised

refuges on both the sides for mobility aids

users

Tactile warning strips (at least 600mm. wide),

marking the beginning and the end of a

pedestrian refuge, to warn pedestrians with

vision impairment

Braille information plates on pole, to orient

persons with vision impairment and deaf-blind,

about the location and direction of road ahead

PEDESTRIAN REFUGES

THANK YOU