Last month, Public Association ‘Road Safety’ (PARS) in collaboration with the Federation of Auto Motorsport and Road Safety of the Kyrgyz Republic (FAMS), and local municipal leaders unveiled speed management improvements at the Budenovka village school in the Chuy region of the Kyrgyz Republic. Supported by the FIA Foundation and EASST, the initiative marks the first time that Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) recommendations have been implemented in Kyrgyzstan. It represents a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to meet its national road safety target of modernising road infrastructure in accordance with international best practice.
The Budenovka school, which serves nearly 1,000 students aged 6 to 17, was selected following a SR4S assessment, input from local police, and a site inspection. The school zone initially received a 1-star rating due to high speeds and poor infrastructure, including a lack of pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, signage, and lighting. To get to school, many students must also cross a nearby highway with a 60 km/h speed limit and no traffic calming. In February 2025, three crashes were reported along this stretch of road alone.
In May 2025, surveys and interviews were conducted with students, parents, and teachers to assess their perceptions of road safety around the school. Findings revealed strong concerns:
- 9 in 10 parents and teachers supported lower speed limits near the school.
- 3 out of 4 students felt vehicles drove too fast.
- Nearly 80% of parents said they were worried about their child’s safety on the way to school.
To address these concerns, EASST and the FIA Foundation supported PARS and local authorities to develop updated road designs, guided by SR4S, to improve safety and speed management with new infrastructure being installed ahead of the 2025–2026 school year.
30km/h speed limits and a signalised pedestrian crossing have been added to the main highway to slow vehicles and provide a safer crossing point. A new zebra crossing and traffic signage have also been introduced on the road adjacent to the school, and the speed limit has been reduced to 30 km/h.
These upgrades have transformed the intersection of the main highway and the school road, boosting its star rating from 1.0 to 3.5 stars. The improvement marks a significant step forward in protecting children as they cross at this busy junction.
During the official launch, a group of third-grade students participated in a hands-on safety session. They practiced using the new crossing signals under teacher supervision, with similar sessions planned for other classes in the near future.
Mirgul Kaidulatova, the school’s Director, welcomed the changes and highlighted the positive feedback from residents:
“I am so glad that the light was installed. Not only me, but my students, parents, our staff – all are very grateful. Because our school is situated on a main road with high speeds, it was unsafe and there were many dangerous situations… It is safe now not only for our schoolchildren, but all pedestrians and even for drivers. It was a big benefit.”
These are just the first steps in the process of establishing the Budenovka school as a model of international best practice, with a new SR4S assessment to be carried out to measure the initial improvements in infrastructure happening soon. Local authorities have welcomed the improvements and invited further upgrades and projects in the village. Over the long term, we hope to introduce sidewalks, barriers, and street lighting to further protect pedestrians from traffic and enhance safety.
Speaking of the launch, Emil Nurbekov of FAMS said:
“This is a necessary programme and it needs to be widened further. It gives an opportunity for schools to solve road safety problems which is especially needed in countries with low levels of social support from the state. Each prevented crash is already a great achievement of the programme.”
The project has also been key in providing local stakeholders with hands on experience in designing and implementing best practice approaches to road safety infrastructure. This work aligns with ongoing advocacy efforts led by PARS and the Republican Traffic Police to introduce 30 km/h speed zones near schools nationwide, as well as Kyrgyzstan’s national road safety goals to improve road infrastructure and design. Eventually, the project aims to set a new standard for how modern infrastructure can improve school zone safety across Kyrgyzstan, protecting lives and creating safer journeys for children.
” We have been working on speed reduction near schools for 2-3 years. Last year, we managed to implement speed limit reductions to 30 km/h near 163 schools nationwide, thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Transport of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The new crossing and infrastructural improvements on the expressway in Budenovka are the next phase in demonstrating how speed management infrastructure can support speed limit reductions around schools and guide safer driver behaviour – contributing to the preservation of health and life of children and pedestrians – and aligning with the National Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic on road safety.”
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