Hyderabad: A significant number of pedestrian deaths near educational institutions is a cause for concern, say parents and school managements, citing the NCRB’s report on accidental deaths for 2022 released earlier this week.
As per the report, Telangana clocked 1,458 pedestrian deaths and 2,937 injuries in 2022, accounting for over five per cent of pedestrian deaths in the country. Of these, 426 fatalities were recorded near educational institutions, causing concern.
Several school managements, grappling with the grim reality, attributed the rise to a lack of traffic police support.
“We've turned to our school cabinet leaders to assist students in safely crossing roads during peak hours. We have given prefects adequate training to help our students, as well as pedestrians on the road,” Prem Naidu K., principal of a private school, told Deccan Chronicle.
“The data is truly a clarion call for urgent attention to pedestrian safety near educational institutions,” he said.
Parents, too, voiced their concerns about the perilous rush hour conditions, particularly in commercial areas that had schools, tuition centres and offices in proximity.
“After a tiring day, everyone is in a rush to get home; there's little patience or willingness to slow down,” said Haroon Richard, a parent.
Another parent, not wanting to be named, criticised autorickshaw drivers who ferry schoolchildren for lacking civic sense and speeding in congested areas.
Motorists also pointed to infrastructure deficiencies.
Poornima Chander, a motorist said, “There's a lack of proper signboard warnings near educational institutions. While I noticed one school on my way to work having rumble strips on the road leading to it, many others lacked even the crucial ‘go slow’ boards. These are either missing, broken, or not visible due to advertisement hoardings, wires or unpruned trees.”
The NCRB's comprehensive report on accidental deaths and suicides for 2022 revealed that in Telangana, motorcycle-related accidents led to 3,977 deaths and 10,400 injuries.
“Speeding claimed the lives of 6,592 individuals, while dangerous or careless driving/overtaking resulted in 618 fatalities. Drunk driving and poor weather conditions contributed to 190 and 27 deaths, respectively,” the report stated.
Traffic police said that the personnel deployed in school zones move towards the roads leading to them during the opening and closing hours.
A senior traffic police official at Gopalapuram in North Zone said: “We cover St Ann's, St Mary's and St Francis schools, among others. We even have the cops on duty post pictures every day, as proof of their deployment. Maybe it's the smaller schools in bylanes or other areas that have an issue, which will be addressed soon.”
