Honored to Speak at the National School Health Summit 2024!

I had the privilege of being one of the panel speakers at the National School Health Summit 2024, where we explored critical topics including Injury Prevention, Road Safety, Fire, and Disaster Management in Schools. My focus was on the need to integrate road safety as a regular part of the school curriculum rather than just a chapter in textbooks. Here are the key points I discussed:

Global Issue, Local Impact: Road accidents are the leading cause of death globally among adolescents aged 15-19, with India contributing 27% of global road traffic accidents.

Current Limitations: Road safety education is often too brief, leaving gaps in practical knowledge. There is a pressing need to introduce real-world experiential learning in schools.

Adolescent Vulnerability: Risk-taking behaviors, like over speeding and ignoring safety gear, make adolescents more prone to accidents. Schools can address this by offering comprehensive and continuous education.

Comprehensive Curriculum Integration: Road safety should be a core part of the curriculum with regular workshops, simulations, and road drills to equip students with the skills to navigate real traffic situations safely.

Global Best Practices: Countries like Scandinavia, Australia, and Japan use interactive, hands-on training from an early age, setting a strong example of how practical learning can lead to better road safety outcomes.

Road Environment Risks: We also discussed the risks related to road environments this included

Probability: Likelihood of accidents due to factors like road conditions, traffic density, and driver behavior.

Exposure: Higher vehicle volumes increase the likelihood of accidents, especially in high-traffic areas.

Severity: Factors like vehicle type, speed zones, and adherence to safety rules impact the severity of accidents.

In this regard my final suggestion is encouraging schools to establish ‘Road Safety Clubs’, inclusion of road safety education in extracurricular activities, such as sports days and community events, to normalize safe behavior and last but not the least collaborating for impact; Schools, government bodies, NGOs, and corporations must collaborate to build awareness and promote continuous road safety education. Let’s come together to make road safety a regular part of school education and ensure that we raise responsible, safety-conscious future drivers. #SchoolHealthSummit2024 #RoadSafety #InjuryPrevention #CSR #Corporatesocialresponsibility #StudentSafety #EducationForSafety #TrafficSafety # Safety #LearningEnvironment #SHARP