3M looks to improve road safety in school zones

MANILA: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, road traffic accidents are the greatest cause of death for children aged five and up globally. With this in mind, 3M announced that it will enhance safety and visibility in 100 school zones in 23 countries around the world, including the Philippines and 10 other Asian countries by 2024 to help ensure the protection of these most vulnerable pedestrians.

In 2021, as part of its efforts to promote road and transportation safety, 3M sponsored an independent third-party research in 11 countries to determine the primary concerns of adults about safely getting to and from home, as well as their perspectives on the present state of transportation safety in their communities.

In Asia Pacific, 46% of those surveyed said a family member or close friend had died or been severely injured in a road accident, far higher than the global average of 33%. Eighty-four percent of parents (vs. 75% globally) are concerned about getting their children to and from school safely, which ranks first among community transportation safety concerns.

Traffic accidents kill over 2,000 people and injure 54,000 people per day in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the International Road Assessment Program's (iRAP) Vaccines for Roads Big Data Tool. In the Philippines, more than 65,000 road accidents were reported in Metro Manila in 2020, averaging 178 per day.

3M has been collaborating with communities all around the world to make roads safer for everyone, with the specific goal of keeping families safe on their way home. 3M aims to boost its commitment to keeping roads safe from this year to 2024 with its school zone modifications.

The youngest pedestrians are most vulnerable when walking or biking to and from school due to underdeveloped roads, lack of crosswalks, and inadequate visibility in school zones. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate at which these instances occur significantly increases in low-income countries and communities, demonstrating a strong need for reform. 3M understands the importance of tackling these risks and creating safer school zones.

In a statement, 3M Transportation Safety Division President Dr. Dan Chen said, “3M’s commitment to improve school zone safety centers on the belief that every child deserves a chance at an education and getting to school safely shouldn’t be a barrier. Over the next two years, we will work with NGOs and government agencies to improve safety in school zones and develop a scalable model for high-risk and under-resourced communities to create safer roads for all children.”

“In addition to continuing our advocacy work for improving road safety standards, we at 3M Philippines are committed to helping schools across the country become more secure for their students by keeping the roads around them safe,” 3M Philippines Country Leader Reggie Pulumbarit stated. “We are currently partnering with several local schools and institutions to support our mission to advance safety in school zones and road systems in order to keep our children safe and their education secure.”

3M's Transportation Safety Division has been working to improve global transportation infrastructure and mobility for more than eight decades. Families have returned home safely, thanks to the high-performance road materials and technology such as Diamond Grade Reflective Sheeting for school zone signage and Pavement Marking Tape to increase reflectivity and visibility for motorists and pedestrians.

While technology and innovation are crucial aspects in creating safer road conditions, 3M continues to engage and work with communities, civic and government leaders, legislators, NGOs, and other organizations all over the world to help propel change and establish better roadway systems.

As a UN Global Compact member, 3M recognizes the significance of public-private partnerships in addressing important global issues including road and transportation safety. 3M is a signatory to the Call on President Biden to End Roadway Fatalities and a pledge of the United Nations General Assembly Decade of Action for Road Safety to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least half by 2030.

To learn more about 3M's School Zone Road Safety program, log on to 3M.com/schoolzonesafety.

Photo from 3M

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