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Image credit: AIP Foundation<\/a><\/pre>\nAIP Foundation<\/a>\/AA Vietnam<\/a> and AA Ceylon<\/a>\u00a0have launched safer school zone infrastructure in Vietnam and Sri Lanka, respectively, thanks to the grant provided by\u00a0FIA Region II<\/a>.<\/p>\n
AA Ceylon conducted an assessment at both WP\/Mattegoda and Vidyadeepa Maha Vidyalaya schools in the country\u2019s Western Province using the SR4S app, finding the safety of surrounding streets rated 2-stars for safety.\u00a0 Students had nowhere to cross safely and existing infrastructure had deteriorated. To address this, AA Ceylon identified necessary improvements to be made. The Club developed safety improvements in front of the schools including signage, road markings, a zebra crossing, safer walk paths on both sides of the road and bus stands for children to take refuge in whilst waiting for public transport. The Club also developed training and engaged students as traffic wardens wearing proper visible attire to assist students and teachers to engage in safe road behaviour near the schools. AAC recently reassessed the schools using SR4S and announced a rating of 4-5 stars in safety had been attained.<\/p>\n
In Vietnam, AIP Foundation has also recently celebrated the completion of school zone modifications at la Nhin Primary School in Gia Lai province. This follows the celebration of AIP Foundation’s Slow Zones, Safe Zones program, and recent Partnership Framework signing ceremony with the Ministry of Transport for the Safe School Zones Guide.<\/p>\n
La Nhin Primary School is located on a main provincial highway connecting Pleiku City and Chu Pah district in Gia Lai province. The highway is plagued by heavy traffic \u2013 two-wheelers mixing with huge buses and container transportation trucks which highly impacts the safety of commuting vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Road dangers are everywhere, and students are at risk. The speed limit in the area is 50km\/h and speeding above this limit is common.<\/p>\n
One of the most important interventions that helped improve safety in the school zone was the reduction on speed from a legally posted limit of 50 km\/h to 30 km\/h during peak pick-up and drop-off times. The safety modifications were validated by the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) App, which determined that Ia Nhin school successfully increased its safety rating from 2 to 5-stars (the safest rating), enabling the next generation to safely access education.<\/p>\n
These interventions were completed as part of an FIA Region II Collaboration Grant focussed on supporting infrastructural upgrades within the FIA School Assessment Toolkit<\/a> Framework.<\/p>\n