Most schools, pars, kids don't follow 2014 road safety guidelines

Gurgaon: In the wake of the tragic death of Jiya Juneja, the 7-year-old student of Ryan International School, in a hit-and-run accident, parents across the city have stressed on the importance of following school safety guidelines.
According to traffic police data till April 2016, about 15% Gurgaon children who were victims of pedestrian accidents, are below 15 years.Last year, 19% of the victims were children.
In 2014, the police had come out with a set of comprehensive safety guidelines for all city schools. Over 250 people, including school principals, parents, activists, cops and district administration officials, had come together to draft the guidelines. However, the guidelines are still not followed by many.
"Not only do the guidelines specify the responsibility of schools, bus drivers and teachers who accompany students in the school bus, they also raised the need to create awareness among children, school staff (both teaching and non-teaching) and parents, about the risks involved with regards to child safety, and simple preventive measures that can be taken to reduce these risks. For instance, a 7-year-old should not walk on a road without an adult. If these things are taught to students right from Class I, many lives can be saved," said Deepak, a parent.
The guidelines also specify how to cross a road. "Look right, then left, then right again (many adults themselves do not follow the two following steps, and therefore the child being aware of this is a good way for it to take responsibility and remind the adult)," states a draft of the guidelines, available on the Gurgaon Police website.
Expressing concern over lack of awareness among children about traffic rules, a school principal on condition of anonymity said, "Even highly educated parents don't teach children basic traffic rules. It's good to start as early as possible. When we take up special workshops on road safety, we tell them even the slightest of details. For instance, how to walk on a pavement, how to cross a road, how to walk in a parking lot."
"It breaks my heart every time there is such a death. If schools take it seriously and attempt to cover as many points as possible in the guideline checklist, there would be fewer accidents. Parents also have to ensure their wards understand the risks and avoid them," said Odette Katrak, one of the parents involved in drafting the guidelines.