Telangana: The Telangana government is preparing to launch India’s first dedicated child road safety action plan to protect children from road accidents. The “Road Safety Action Plan for Children 2030” will create safe paths and environments for children and pedestrians. Its aim is to make paths around schools completely safe for children to walk on and reduce the harm and risks children face in accidents.
According to officials, a new action plan is being developed to address the increasing number of accidents and poor traffic near schools. This is because many schools lack adequate pedestrian space, vehicles drive too fast, and traffic is poorly managed. This new plan will include several changes, including building safer roads for children, installing proper zebra crossings, reducing vehicle speeds, and raising public awareness.
According to government sources, the programme will involve coordination between several departments, including the transport department, police, municipal administration, education authorities, and urban planning agencies. Officials believe a multi-department approach is necessary to effectively identify high-risk zones and implement long-term road safety improvements for children.
The decision comes at a time when Telangana continues to witness a worrying number of road accidents. During recent road safety discussions, authorities highlighted the need for targeted policies focused specifically on vulnerable road users, especially children. Data shared during state road safety campaigns revealed that Telangana recorded thousands of road accidents and fatalities in recent years, prompting renewed focus on preventive measures and safer urban mobility.
As part of the proposed roadmap, officials are likely to identify accident-prone school areas and upgrade infrastructure with zebra crossings, warning signs, dedicated footpaths, traffic signals, and speed breakers. Authorities are also considering stricter monitoring of school transport vehicles and improved enforcement against overspeeding and reckless driving near educational institutions.
The government is expected to launch road safety awareness programmes for students, parents, teachers, and drivers to encourage responsible road behaviour. Experts believe awareness and behavioural changes will play a critical role in reducing accidents involving children.
Urban planners and road safety experts have welcomed this initiative. They say that despite increasing congestion and population, Indian cities have long lacked planning for safe travel for children. According to them, safe roads for children can only be achieved through better infrastructure, stricter regulations, and consistent awareness.
Officials said the plan will be implemented gradually, with priority given to areas around large cities and crowded schools in the first phase.
