The parallel session on “Safer Roads for Children and Adolescents” was jointly organised by CEE and The Urban Life (TUL) Foundation on 9th January 2025 at CEE Campus, Ahmedabad. This session was part of the observance of Road Safety Month 2025, declared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Govt. of India. It featured expert presentations followed by a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders, moderated by Amarnath Karan (CEE).
Expert Presentations
The session began with a presentation by Dr. Gautham Sukumar (NIMHANS, Bangalore) on the scenario of child and adolescent road safety in India. He highlighted that over half of child road fatalities occur on the spot before reaching a hospital. He emphasised the vulnerability of children due to their age and physical
limitations, and pointed out that road and mobility systems are not designed to meet their safety needs. He also discussed systemic challenges related to policy, legislation, action plans, funding, research, enforcement, and institutional mechanisms. Ms. Nikita Kinge (TUL Foundation) presented the success story of the Cycle to School project at RRP School in Surat, showcasing infrastructure improvements for safer school commutes, along with visual comparisons of before-and-after scenarios. Mr. Amarnath Karan (CEE) shared the findings of road safety assessments conducted in 10 schools in Ahmedabad, emphasising the need for a Safe Systems Approach, including safe school zones, speed enforcement, footpaths, safe crossings, and cycle tracks. He also highlighted the importance of behavioural change, such as promoting child helmet and restraint use, which can be achieved through institutional capacity building at the local level.
Roundtable Discussion
Following the presentations, a roundtable discussion was chaired by Dr. Abhijit Lokre (Founder, TUL Foundation). Representatives from enforcement agencies, traffic police, RTO, road safety and sustainable transport advocates, civil society groups, school communities, public health experts, and media professionals participated. They shared concerns, insights, and recommendations to create safer road systems for children and adolescents in Gujarat.
Shri Safin Hasan, DCP Traffic (Ahmedabad East), emphasised the need to improve data systems for better child road safety management. He stressed the importance of road engineering improvements and greater accountability in road design, construction, and maintenance to enhance pedestrian safety.
Shri JJ Patel, RTO of Ahmedabad, highlighted the importance of strict enforcement to prevent underage and unlicensed driving, which is prevalent among young people. He also advocated for educating parents and caregivers on road safety enforcement, helmet use, and speed control, as many parents resist strict enforcement measures that are designed to protect their children.