EA991 and Botswana Department of Road Transport Services Implement Star Rating for Schools to Enhance Road Safety for Children

In a concerted effort to improve road safety for children, FIA Member Club Emergency Assist 991 (EA991) and the Botswana Department of Road Transport Services have implemented the iRAP’s Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology. As part of the FIA Safe and Sustainable Mobility Grants Programme 2024 and supported by the FIA Foundation, this initiative addresses the high number of pedestrian road traffic accidents involving children and adolescents aged 5-20, with 475 incidents recorded in 2021.

Designed to improve safety in school zones, the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology aligns with the UN Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, and supports Botswana’s commitment to child and adolescent well-being.

On 18-19 September 2024, a SR4S training session was held for members of the Letlhakeng and Kweneng District Road Safety Committees. Participants were trained on how to assess and improve the safety of school environments, building local capacity for data collection and evidence-based interventions. The training was facilitated by local experts, Tendai Belindah Lisenda and Gabriel Mothibakgomo, who had been trained by iRAP earlier in the year.

The training included a practical session where participants conducted safety assessments at two local schools, followed by a review of their findings using the SR4S web application. 

Emergency Assist 991 (EA991), a recipient of the FIA Safe and Sustainable Mobility Grants Programme 2024, is spearheading this initiative in Botswana to prioritise the safety and well-being of children.

Paul Setswe, EA991’s Road Safety Coordinator and FIA Policy Commission Member, said: “iRAP has been instrumental in helping us empower local stakeholders to conduct safety assessments and advocate for school safety improvements. SR4S provides a valuable framework for collaboration and support, particularly from governments, as it offers an evidence-based approach that aligns with the Decade of Action objectives.”