In Mexico and Latin America, a significant proportion of serious injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents occur during daily commutes, especially near schools. For thousands of children, the walk to school involves risks that should play no part in daily life.
In observance of Children’s Day, the Aleatica Foundation for Road Safety is highlighting this issue and the need to intervene in the most affected environments.
In this context, the Foundation is promoting the SeguroEsCool (“SafeIsCool”) program, an initiative that goes beyond raising awareness to focus on comprehensive road safety projects aligned with the core principles of the Safe System approach. These projects are implemented in school environments and high-accident areas with the aim of preventing traffic accidents, fostering a culture of road safety, and promoting safe behavior among road customers.
Intervention in 12 school settings
Projects are currently underway in 12 schools located in the vicinity of the Atizapán–Atlacomulco Highway (ATAT)—currently under construction—in the State of Mexico.
The approach combines technical tools and community participation through four lines of action:
- Evidence-based assessment, using iRAP’s Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology, which identifies and measures the level of risk in each school environment.
- Design of road safety culture solutions, aligned with Mexican Official Standards, prioritizing low-cost, high-impact interventions.
- Outcome measurement, through pre- and post-intervention assessments to provide objective evidence of impact.
- Educational interventions, through workshops targeting children, teachers, and families to promote safe behaviors.
Safe Environments: A Shared Responsibility
Child road safety does not depend solely on individual behavior. Under the Safe System approach promoted by the United Nations, it is up to authorities, infrastructure operators, the private sector, and civil society to create conditions that prevent errors and mitigate their consequences.
In this regard, the project is being carried out in coordination with the ATAT concession, state authorities, and local stakeholders, which strengthens regional coordination to promote sustainable solutions.
Celebrating childhood means protecting children’s right to move safely on the streets
Children’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate, but also to reflect on the conditions in which children live, play, and travel.
Protecting their lives means ensuring they can move about in safe environments, where walking to school does not pose any preventable risks.
Through initiatives like SeguroEsCool, the Aleatica Foundation promotes actions to improve these environments and reduce risks on daily commutes.
We Are Road Safety!