Worries About Commuting to School... Nowon-gu Solves It with 'Walking School Bus'

Demand survey conducted for elementary schools; 22 schools and 38 routes confirmed... 40 safety instructors selected, focusing on those with experience in traffic safety activities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that starting from the new semester in March 2020, it will assign ‘Walking School Bus’ traffic safety instructors to schools to ensure the safe commute of elementary school students.

The Walking School Bus is a service where traffic safety instructors accompany children on their way between home and school, similar to how a school bus picks up and drops off students.

The district selected 40 traffic safety instructors after conducting criminal background checks, giving preference to those with experience related to traffic safety.

There are 38 routes across 22 schools, and the selected safety instructors are assigned to each route to accompany 7 to 8 children who share the same route, while also conducting patrol activities around the schools.

The operation period is from March to December, excluding school vacations, and service applications are made through school newsletters sent to families.

To determine the appropriate number of students per traffic safety instructor and finalize the routes, a demand survey was conducted in December last year targeting elementary schools in the area.

Nowon-gu has been implementing the traffic safety instructor program since 2012 to ensure safe commuting routes. In a 2019 survey of 223 participating students and parents, 94.6% expressed satisfaction, indicating strong positive feedback.

Many parents responded that this program is essential for lower-grade elementary students who are still unfamiliar with their school routes and have less ability to respond to situations compared to adults, which poses a risk of accidents. It was especially popular among dual-income families.

The district is also conducting a ‘School Zone Traffic Support’ project to prevent traffic accidents during students’ commutes. Approximately 590 senior citizens are stationed at crosswalks and other locations during school commute times at 36 elementary schools in the area to help prevent traffic accidents.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The Walking School Bus not only helps prevent traffic accidents but also fosters proper traffic habits early on,” adding, “We will make great efforts to create a safe commuting environment.”

Nowon-gu Office Traffic Guidance Division (2116-4107)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.