School zone: Aerial view of the road with improved infrastructure.
SPEED carries a major risk factor in road crashes, affecting both the likelihood and severity of accidents. Where schools are located, reducing vehicle speeds is even more critical.
In response to the need for safer schools, SJK (T) Ladang Gadong in Banting, Selangor, introduced safety improvements for its pupils in the form of a speed reduction intervention that slows vehicles by design.
The infrastructure measures were implemented within a 500m radius of the school entrance, including a raised crosswalk, narrowed road space, rumble strips, sidewalks for pedestrians and traffic lights.
A key driver of the initiative, the Works Ministry narrowed travel lanes to 3.3m, encouraging drivers to slow down and be more cautious while in the school zone.
The intervention also reduced the crossing distance for pupils by 22.4%, dropping it from 8.5m to 6.6m, thereby reducing their exposure to the risk of being hit by a vehicle.
The combined efforts resulted in a 21% decrease in average vehicle speeds, from 62km/h to 49km/h, according to a press release.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi recently launched the intervention’s completion under the ministry’s Level Pedestrian Crossing with Signal Lights project – one of 153 such projects completed by the ministry since 2018 – in line with its target to cut fatal crashes by 50% by 2030.
Safety first: Nanta joining schoolchildren in crossing the road during the launch.
At the launch on Nov 26 last year, he said the project aimed to improve the safety of all road users, especially pupils and pedestrians using the crossing, and would serve as a model for other schools near rural high-speed roads.
Assistant headmistress G. Kanagam, who has worked at the school for over 32 years, said the changes have made pupils and parents more comfortable crossing the busy main road, especially those who live nearby and walk to school.
The efforts stemmed from a collaboration between the Works Ministry and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, with support from local non-governmental organisation Commute Initiatives.
SJK (T) Ladang Gadong was selected by the Works Ministry to test this speed reduction intervention, a new approach that reduces speed through design by reexamining the National Standard Drawing for School Streets.
Standard drawings are technical illustrations and specifications by the Public Works Department that standardise construction practices, particularly for roads or buildings. They are used in the design of such projects to ensure consistency, safety standards while saving time and effort.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Think about the roads near your school. How safe do you think they are for students? What improvements could make them even safer? discuss your ideas in class.
2 Besides speed, what other factors contribute to road crashes? How can these factors be addressed to improve safety? In groups, create a mind map and present it to the class.
The Star’s Newspaper-in- Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@ thestar.com.my.
