Background Safe Kids Philippines (SKP) observed that the walking environments of many schools in the Philippines are not safe for children pedestrians. Thus SKP joined Safe Kids Worldwide to implement the Model School Zone project.
Aims/Objectives/Purpose To convert St. Andrew's School into a Model School Zone, to improve the safety of pedestrians by evaluating the school zone, and to implement interventions including permanent environmental and infrastructure improvements are the goals of the project.
Methods SKP identified a school, solicited the commitments of the stakeholders from the government and community. The project has three phases: collection of baseline data, developing interventions and evaluation of the project. The Photovoice Methodology, where students took photos of the walking environments and wrote about their perceptions, was also utilised.
Results/Outcomes Findings through the school zone assessment tool were: the walking environments were chaotic. There was a mix of pedestrians and vehicles on the roadway. A total of 600 motorcycles of more than 2000 vehicles were the majority among the road users in an hour. Sidewalks were not available. Traffic enforcers did not know standard signages. Highways were used as parking lots. About 2000 students were in need pedestrian safety education. After presenting data to stakeholders, interventions addressed education, engineering and enforcement needs.
Significance/Contribution to the Field In aligning to the goals of the Decade of Action for Road Safety, SKP recognises that baseline data is as important as interventions and evaluation in reducing road traffic injuries. In this direction, SKP is connecting pathways for a vibrant and safer future.
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