On any given day, 1 billion children around the world head to school – many facing dangers on their way. Here’s how 3M is working to enhance school zone safety.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young people globally. Every day, crowded and chaotic roadways put children’s lives at risk as they travel to school, and the situation will only worsen as road vehicle numbers are forecast to double by 2030.
But getting to and from school does not have to be perilous. And keeping students safe does not need to be complex. Work is underway around the world to address school zone safety, with governments, NGOs and organizations like 3M partnering to use technology to reduce the dangers related to school zones and crosswalks.
“There is such a strong need to protect children as they access education,” said Thad Radel, global marketing operations and strategy senior manager with 3M’s Transportation Safety Division.
“When you think about small children trying to cross a crosswalk,” he continued, “they can't compete with everything happening in the roadway. So it's critically important that we help make them visible and help keep them safe.”
Select a hotspot to learn about school safety globally
Though the U.S. is in many ways a global leader in school zone safety, there are still 5 teen pedestrian deaths every week.
Only 4 in 10 school zones have signposted slow speed limits of 20mph or less.
In Mexico, most children and young people walk on a daily basis — especially to and from school — roughly 60 percent of children and adolescents who attend school get there on foot.
Road traffic-related incidents are the most common cause of death among children ages 5 to 9.
Road traffic is the leading cause of death for children in Brazil 14 and under.
Surveys in Brazil show that up to 80 percent of citizens in certain cities report feeling unsafe because of how dangerous and heavy traffic is.
In India, the number of pedestrian deaths has increased by approximately 84 percent in recent years. There are an average of 62 pedestrian deaths every single day, per recent estimates.
Among those, about half are children. Recent estimates say 31 children die in road crashes every day in India.
South Korea has been a global leader in reducing pediatric road safety deaths, decreasing them by more than 90 percent from the 1990s to present day.
Still, road traffic issues are an ongoing issue. And 53 percent of pedestrian casualties in South Korea occur in crossings.
Japan is, in many ways, a modern road safety success story: In 2019, the country reached its lowest level of road mortality since records started being kept in the late 1940s.
Speeding remains an issue: violation of the speed limit was recorded in police records for nearly 4 percent of all road fatalities in 2019.
More than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Road traffic injury death rates are highest in the African region.
Even within high-income countries, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes.
DRAG TO EXPLORE
A universal crisis
Nowhere in the world is immune. In the United States, more than 600 children die in road accidents each year, while more than 91,000 are injured. Globally, the majority of child road deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In India, for example, road traffic injuries account for roughly 38 percent of deaths among children under 14.
Though these concerns are universal, there are significant differences in the types of dangers students face. In high-income countries like the United States, distracted driving and walking tend to be the biggest risks. Research suggests that one in four middle school students — and one in six high school students — is distracted en route to school, most often because they’re texting or wearing headphones. An estimated 80 percent of students in this country also regularly participate in unsafe street crossing behavior, such as crossing against the lights, not looking before crossing, or not crossing at a crosswalk.
“Speed is another huge problem,” Radel said. Only 4 in 10 U.S. school zones have a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
In low-income countries, children face similar threats, which can be compounded by infrastructure shortcomings. The World Health Organization has warned of an “epidemic” of traffic injuries, noting that school zone safety is overlooked in many communities — even entire nations — leading to thousands of preventable deaths every year.
“There are a lot of hazards in school zones in those countries,” said Dan Chen, president of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division. “Many of those kids are traveling a long distance to get to school. They may be crossing major thoroughfares. Sometimes there’s no sidewalk for them to walk on. Oftentimes, their schools are in dense urban centers, so there are a lot of vehicles. Cross-sector collaboration is critical to address school zone safety issues around the world.”
A universal crisis
Nowhere in the world is immune. In the United States, more than 600 children die in road accidents each year, while more than 91,000 are injured. Globally, the majority of child road deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In India for example, road traffic injuries account for roughly 38 percent of deaths among children under 14.
Though these concerns are universal, there are significant differences in the types of dangers students face. In high-income countries like the United States,distracted driving and walking tend to be the biggest risks. Research suggests that one in four middle school students — and one in six high school students — is distracted en route to school, most often because they’re texting or wearing headphones. An estimated 80 percent of students in this country also regularly participate in unsafe street crossing behavior, such as crossing against the lights, not looking before crossing, or not crossing at a crosswalk.
“Speed is another huge problem,” Radel said. Only 4 in 10 U.S. school zones have a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
In low-income countries, children face similar threats, which can be compounded by infrastructure shortcomings. The World Health Organization has warned of an “epidemic” of traffic injuries, noting that school zone safety is overlooked in many communities — even entire nations — leading to thousands of preventable deaths every year.
“There are a lot of hazards in school zones in those countries,” said Dan Chen, president of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division. “Many of those kids are traveling a long distance to get to school. They may be crossing major thoroughfares. Sometimes there’s no sidewalk for them to walk on. Oftentimes, their schools are in dense urban centers, so there are a lot of vehicles. Cross-sector collaboration is critical to address school zone safety issues around the world.”
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Partnering to expand awareness
With so many children around the world facing these challenges, tackling school zone safety requires a multilayered approach. In the U.S., the federal Safe Routes To School program provides funding for critical infrastructure, like better sidewalks and traffic calming measures to slow cars down to make it safer for children to bike or walk to school.
In parts of the world with less funding and fewer regulations, 3M works with local governments to help establish baseline safety rules and recommendations.
“Part of what we do is recommend to governments on how to improve their regulatory framework, like road safety standards,” explained Harish Banwari, director of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division in Asia. “Do the regulations in a country provide for adequate road safety interventions? Do the standards say there must be simple things, like signage, pavement markings, or other safety devices on the road?”
NGOs also play a critical role. In the U.S., 3M has sponsored the Vision Zero Network, a national nonprofit working towards the shared goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. More than 45 communities across the country have committed to the goal.
But governments and nonprofits can only do so much. Expanding awareness of the school zone safety problem is essential, too. 3M’s newly launched School Zone Safety program will help transform school zones around the world, tackling issues like crosswalk visibility and traffic markings.
“The project is about making a call to action for governments in order to make sure there is a serious commitment from their side to improve infrastructure,” said Victor Cabrera, Director of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division in Latin America. “It’s about making a commitment that we can help give a better future to kids across the globe.”
3M is aiming to facilitate these improvements at 100 schools globally.
“We’re working with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to identify schools where we can make an impact, not only by donating road safety materials and signs, but by paying for the installations,” said Radel.
It’s about making a commitmentthat we can help give a better future to kids across the globe.
Partnering
to expand awareness
With so many children around the world facing these challenges, tackling school zone safety requires a multilayered approach. In the U.S., the federal Safe Routes To School program provides funding for critical infrastructure, like better sidewalks and traffic calming measures to slow cars down to make it safer for children to bike or walk to school.
In parts of the world with less funding and fewer regulations, 3M works with local governments to help establish baseline safety rules and recommendations.
“Part of what we do is recommend to governments on how to improve their regulatory framework, like road safety standards,” explained Harish Banwari, director of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division in Asia. “Do the regulations in a country provide for adequate road safety interventions? Do the standards say there must be simple things, like signage, pavement markings, or other safety devices on the road?”
It’s about making a commitmentthat we can help give a better future to kids across the globe.
NGOs also play a critical role. In the U.S., 3M has sponsored the Vision Zero Network, a national nonprofit working towards the shared goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. More than 45 communities across the country have committed to the goal.
But governments and nonprofits can only do so much. Expanding awareness of the school zone safety problem is essential, too. 3M’s newly launched School Zone Safety program will help transform school zones around the world, tackling issues like crosswalk visibility and traffic markings.
“The project is about making a call to action for governments in order to make sure there is a serious commitment from their side to improve infrastructure,” said Victor Cabrera, Director of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division in Latin America. “It’s about making a commitment that we can help give a better future to kids across the globe.”
3M is aiming to facilitate these improvements at 100 schools globally.
“We’re working with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to identify schools where we can make an impact, not only by donating road safety materials and signs, but by paying for the installations,” said Radel.
Simple technology. Big changes.
While school zone safety is undeniably complex, much of what can help keep students safe is remarkably simple. Take better signage, which can warn drivers that they’re in a school zone and must drive accordingly. According to the World Health Organization, slowing down by just 5 percent can reduce fatal road crashes by 30%
As part of the School Zone Safety program, 3M installed a crosswalk and reflective signage near a school in Mexico City. The crosswalk used 3M’s Pavement Marking technology — a straightforward but effective strategy that catches the attention of children and drivers alike. The signage used 3M’s Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting which is high contrast and more conspicuous than conventional sheeting, even in inclement weather.
Traffic safety researchers have clear evidence of the impact of pavement markings. At study sites in St. Paul, Minnesota, for example, where there were no roadway markings at crosswalks, researchers found that only between 0 and 10 percent of drivers actually stopped. But adding very simple markings bumped that up to about 64 percent of drivers.
3M is also looking for more innovative ways to use strategic road markings. For example, 3M worked on a “Yellow Carpet” program in Seoul, Korea, to make crosswalk waiting areas much more visible by painting them yellow. According to a 3M study, high-performance materials like pavement markings helped increase school zone visibility by up to 179 percent.
“These are not just superficial changes,” Radel said. “They really do command the driver’s attention more.”
Simple technology. Big changes.
While school zone safety is undeniably complex, much of what can help keep students safe is remarkably simple. Take better signage, which can warn drivers that they’re in a school zone and must drive accordingly. According to the World Health Organization, slowing down by just 5 percent can reduce fatal road crashes by 30%
As part of the School Zone Safety program, 3M installed a crosswalk and reflective signage near a school in Mexico City. The crosswalk used 3M’s Pavement Marking technology — a straightforward but effective strategy that catches the attention of children and drivers alike. The signage used 3M’s Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting which is high contrast and more conspicuous than conventional sheeting, even in inclement weather.
Traffic safety researchers have clear evidence of the impact of pavement markings. At study sites in St. Paul, Minnesota, for example, where there were no roadway markings at crosswalks, researchers found that only between 0 and 10 percent of drivers actually stopped. But adding very simple markings bumped that up to about 64 percent of drivers.
3M is also looking for more innovative ways to use strategic road markings. For example, 3M worked on a “Yellow Carpet” program in Seoul, Korea, to make crosswalk waiting areas much more visible by painting them yellow. According to a 3M study, high-performance materials like pavement markings helped increase school zone visibility by up to 179 percent.
“These are not just superficial changes,” Radel said. “They really do command the driver’s attention more.”
Slide to see safety improvements made
Pedestrians taking a risk walking in the path of traffic
Crosswalk is now highly visible with 3M pavement marking technology
Pedestrians taking a risk walking in the path of traffic
Crosswalk is now highly visible with 3M pavement marking technology
No speed limit signs and no indication that vehicles need to watch out for pedestrians
Speed limit and children crossing signs use 3M reflective sheeting technology to alert drivers to slow down
No speed limit signs and no indication that vehicles need to watch out for pedestrians
Speed limit and children crossing signs use 3M reflective sheeting technology to alert drivers to slow down
No designated area for pedestrians to wait or walk
Raised reflective pavement markers use 3M Diamond Grade microprismatic optics for visibility at night and in wet conditions
No designated area for pedestrians to wait or walk
Raised reflective pavement markers use 3M Diamond Grade microprismatic optics for visibility at night and in wet conditions
No signage designating a crosswalk
Signage and delineators with 3M Diamond Grade reflective sheeting designate safe zone for waiting pedestrians
No signage designating a crosswalk
Signage and delineators with 3M Diamond Grade reflective sheeting designate safe zone for waiting pedestrians
Inspiring the next generation
Transforming global school zone safety is not only a pressing short-term goal; it is a long-term imperative, and 3M believes strongly in educating future generations. Its pilot “Young Change Agents for Road Safety” program in India, launched in 2019, did exactly that. Students in Pune observed the zone around their school to identify road safety issues. They then shared their ideas for what a safer school zone should look like, which 3M helped bring to life.
“We really believe that school children are change agents for road safety. If you educate them, they lay the foundation of road safety improvement for the rest of the world,” Banwari said.
The future is looking safer. Collaborations among governments, nonprofits and the private sector are ushering in necessary systemic changes, while signage and other road safety technologies are helping to keep children safe. Perhaps most important of all, new generations are being inspired to rethink and reshape the roadways and school zones of tomorrow.
“We can do this,” said Chen. “I believe our chance of solving this problem is much better over the next 10 years than it has been over the previous 10 years. We have all of these actors coming together to rally around this. We are going to help keep children safe.”
