COMMUNICATING RESULTS AND SCALING UP THE OUTCOMES
ADVOCATE FOR ROAD UPGRADES
The results of the SR4S assessment is an integral part of the advocacy strategy of the project. The findings of an assessment can help build a persuasive case to motivate actions, push for road upgrades and find complementary solutions through education and enforcement. For this reason, technical information must be translated into compelling messages that help the programme to connect to its stakeholders, who together can establish a motivated force that is perfectly placed to tackle the issues that have been identified.
WRITE A SR4S REPORT
When the assessments have been concluded, the results should be communicated effectively to the various stakeholders. While the results can be presented in various formats, a formal report is helpful in documenting the entire project and conveying the results to the different interested parties. A formal report on SR4S results may include the following:
- An overview of the project including where it was conducted, schools assessed, timescale, partners involved and activities covered
- Methodology of the project, objectives and steps undertaken
- Results of the assessments
- Recommendations of countermeasures and their potential safety benefits
To identify the potential countermeasures for the locations assessed, it will be helpful to engage stakeholders with good engineering and design skills. For each of the datapoints, the report can include the details below:
- A detailed description of the location assessed and how it was selected
- Images that clearly represent the location. If the project has been concluded, the report can include comparison of images before and after any interventions.
- Current Star Rating for each location
- Proposed countermeasures/interventions
- Potential Star Ratings after the implementation of road improvements (or final Star Ratings if the countermeasures have already been implemented)
ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS
There are several potential approaches to making improvements based on the results of the school zone assessments. Alongside infrastructure improvements, complementary education and enforcement solutions can be used in a combined approach that boosts the project’s effectiveness.
Results from the school zone assessments can be used to educate students on the role of infrastructure in safe journeys, and to promote behavioural change. The information will empower the community and help them to demand safer roads and push for political commitment.
Some road improvements may require additional enforcement efforts. Vehicles speeding around a school, for instance, can be tackled with traffic calming measures, perhaps with support from electronic enforcement devices or traffic wardens in specific locations. Consistent enforcement of parking rules with prohibited areas or zoning can reduce congestion and improve visibility. Creating new infrastructure such as pedestrian facilities such as pavements and crossings is transformative for the area as well as for the individual pedestrian. Alternatively, if there is a road improvement project already available, SR4S can assess the effectiveness of the solutions and identify any changes that may be required based on the data collected.
