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IntroductionTextbooks, in India are primary resource of learning in schools and the first books in the life of most of the children, which help them to understand various aspects related to life and living. However, it was found that although transportation being an inseparable part of each one’s life, there was not enough content and awareness about it.ObjectiveTo review the text books of grades I to VIII for road safety content and integrate age specific appropriate content on road safety, while maintaining the authenticity, flow and the curriculum intact. To submit the recommendations of the review to Maharashtra State Textbook Bureau to integrate road safety content to the existing curriculum.MethodologyTextbooks of all the subjects of Marathi medium from Grades I to VIII of Maharashtra State Textbook Bureau were reviewed by Safe Kids Foundation and Brihanmumbai Mahapalika Shikshak Sabha for road safety content, which included words, sentences, paragraphs, pictures, activities/exercises/worksheets and pages. The teachers reviewed the text books of all the subjects and found scope to include new content or to improve it, to make road safety part of the daily lessons in the curriculum.ConclusionIntegration of road safety content in the existing curriculum will create reinforcement daily through various subjects, it will help children understand through examples, exercises, awareness events and pictures the importance of safety and safety culture could be ingrained. The recommendations are noteworthy, these recommendations will encourage the students to explore, read up, experience, improve and act and behave safely on the roads. The findings are submitted to State Textbook Bureau for action.

Background‘Safe Kids Foundation’s, Walk This Way’-a pedestrian safety program teaches children to ‘Walk Safe and Cross Safe’ through educational sessions and awareness activities. Annually more than 220,000 children from 350 schools in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad are benefited by this program. While educating children on road safety, it was observed that children were receptive, willing to adapt to road safety rules and thereby act as ‘young advocates’ to facilitate behaviour change.ObjectiveTo train teachers and build their capacities to carry out age specific innovative interventions on road safety in schools. To conscientize students, parents communities and other stakeholders on the issues of road safety through various activities in school/communities to naturally build the safety culture amongst the targeted stakeholders. To conduct research to study impact of educational sessions on children.ResultsTeachers, children, parents and communities are conscientized on road safety. In this model, to reinforce the messages at regular intervals, activities like game, songs, competitions are conducted. Educational tools such as flipcharts, posters, banners, demonstrations materials like dummy signals, zebra crossing, activity books etc, help in better understanding and comprehension of the information provided. Peer to peer education enabled sensitise 2,500 children by fellow mates. Children’s initiative as safety advocates helped in effectively bringing attitudinal & behavioural changes amongst children and adults. Photo voice, model school zone are research based interventions, initiatives like observing Global Road Safety Week, Road Safety Week- India generates mass mobilisation, street plays and rallies help in effectively reaching the masses.ConclusionsAdopting a multipronged approach works better in building safety culture and creating positive and sustainable change.