This document discusses a study conducted to identify barriers to children's safe movement near school premises and develop solutions. Researchers interviewed experts and conducted surveys of students and teachers at two schools. Several accessibility issues were identified including lack of proper footpaths, unauthorized parking blocking paths, and risky pedestrian behavior. Most students reported the traffic as high and not using available zebra crossings due to distance. Solutions proposed include guidelines for universal design of infrastructure, school buses, and safe movements of children.

1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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)

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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.

13. 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

14. PROBLEMS OF ENCROACHMENT ON
PEDESTRIAN WALKING AREA
 Use of cycle rickshaw as a mode of transport

15. 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

16. 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.

17. RISK TAKING BEHAVIOUR OBSEREVED NEAR
SCHOOL PREMISES

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. MODE OF TRANSPORT
45
35
10
10
Private vehicles
School Bus
Walking
Other

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

34. ----- 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.

35. GUIDELINES OF UNIVERSAL
ACCESSIBLE DESIGNS

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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

44. 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.

45. THE SURVEY OF TRANSPORT PROBLEMS FACED BY
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN DELHI

46. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mental…
MentalIllness
Autism
CerebralPalsy
Deaf-Blind
Multiple…
Blindness
Low-Vision
Hearing…
Locomotor…
AnyOther
11 11 11
56
11
%
Impairment Type Among Females
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mental…
MentalIllness
Autism
CerebralPalsy
Deaf-Blind
Multiple…
Blindness
Low-Vision
Hearing…
Locomotor…
AnyOther
23
4
8
54
12
%
Impairment Type Among Males

47. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
self escorted
77
23
56
44
%
Perform Walking Trips
DEPENDENCY IN COMMUTING
Male Female

48. Percentage Opinion Regarding Other Road User’s
Helping Attitude Towards Them
Options Male Female
Always 4 22
Rarely 73 33
Never 23 44

49. 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

50. OBSERVATION OF FOOTPATH
Pictures showing Footpaths Surface (30th May, 2007)

51. PERCENTAGE OPINION REGARDING WHETHER
FOOTPATHS ARE USER-FRIENDLY
Options Male Female
Always 12 11
Rarely 62 33
Never 27 56

52. OPINION SURVEY ON ADEQUATE WAITING
AREA ON FOOTPATH ON BUS STOPS
Option Male Female
Always 12 11
Rarely 69 33
Never 19 56

53. 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.

54. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY RESULTS

55. 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.

56. 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.

57. 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.

58. 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

59. Braille information plates on pole, to orient
persons with vision impairment and deaf-blind,
about the location and direction of road ahead
PEDESTRIAN REFUGES

60. THANK YOU