SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), in partnership with the CSR initiative of Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL), has initiated a comprehensive school zone safety project at LP School, Paschim Boragaon, located along the NH-27 corridor in Guwahati, which is recognized for its high-risk road conditions. This project aims to reduce critical hazards such as heavy traffic flow, unsafe pedestrian crossings, and chaotic boarding and alighting activities, particularly in a zone that has witnessed six road crash fatalities between 2023 and 2025. The school zone safety initiative, formally approved in November 2025, was developed based on thorough crash data analysis and community input, focusing on improving road design and behavior through targeted engineering strategies.
Key measures implemented include:
- Definition of the school zone with appropriate speed limit signage and marked pathways.
- Introduction of designated pedestrian crossings complemented by tactile bar markings and measures to lower vehicle speeds.
- Use of reflective signage for enhanced visibility.
- Establishment of clearly marked boarding and alighting zones to improve local traffic management.
- Effectiveness of service road management to minimize conflicts between various traffic types.
SLF coordinated a school zone safety walkthrough with diverse stakeholders including government officials, corporate representatives, community members, and enforcement agencies. This collaborative review allowed stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of existing safety interventions and consider public feedback for ongoing improvements. Shri Gaurav Upadhyay, from the Assam Transport Department, emphasized the significance of such holistic and data-informed approaches in addressing real risks faced by children in school zones. Additionally, Mr. Piyush Arora, MD & CEO of SAVWIPL, remarked on the essential nature of evidence-based safety interventions, stating their role in creating safer school environments and moderating traffic to protect children. The importance of sustained safety measures in Kamrup (Metropolitan) was highlighted, with statistics from the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) showing a total of 371 road crash fatalities in 2024 and 356 in 2025—indicating a 4.06% decrease in fatalities following the initiation of safety measures under the Zero-Fatality District programme.
Furthermore, SLF’s intervention has proven effective, as evidenced by a previously enhanced school zone near NPS School that has recorded zero fatalities since SLF’s initiatives commenced in FY 2025. Mr. Piyush Tewari, Founder & CEO of SLF, stated the organization’s commitment to enhancing safety for vulnerable road users, especially children, through constructive measures and community engagement. The Zero Fatality Districts (ZFD) programme, a national initiative derived from collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, aims to systematically eliminate preventable road crash fatalities by addressing engineering risks, fostering law enforcement, enhancing emergency responses, and elevating community engagement across the country’s most hazardous districts.