Experiential Bootcamp on Road Safety Awareness

sRoad traffic crashes continue to pose a significant public safety challenge in India. As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), road accidents in 2023 resulted in approximately 1.72 lakh fatalities and over 4.6 lakh injuries. Notably, 25.4% of these fatalities involved individuals below the age of 25, highlighting the urgent need for early-stage behavioural interventions.

Children and adolescents remain particularly vulnerable road users due to limited visibility, lack of preparedness, and insufficient exposure to structured road safety education. These incidents represent not only a loss of young lives but also a profound emotional and socio-economic impact on families and society.

Recognising that schools serve as the most effective platforms for shaping behaviour, it becomes essential to integrate road safety education into the learning ecosystem through age-appropriate curriculum and experiential pedagogy.

The Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), Indian Institute of Technology Madras, established by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is organising an Experiential Bootcamp on Road Safety Awareness for school students as part of its “Training Young Minds” initiative. This initiative adopts an Activity-Based Learning (ABL) approach aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, focusing on experiential, inquiry-driven learning.

About the Bootcamp

The Experiential Bootcamp is designed to provide students with practical exposure to road safety concepts through structured, activity-based sessions. Unlike conventional classroom teaching, the programme emphasises learning through observation, interaction, and real-world engagement.

Students will participate in a series of guided activities, including traffic awareness exercises, observation-based learning tasks, and campus-based field investigations. These activities are structured to help students identify road safety risks in their surroundings, understand safe pedestrian and cyclist behaviour, and interpret common traffic signages.

The bootcamp also incorporates creative exercises such as traffic signage design challenges, enabling students to translate their observations into meaningful safety solutions and communicate them effectively. The overall approach focuses on developing awareness, critical thinking, and responsible road behaviour among young learners.

Eligibility and Nomination

School students from Classes 8 to 11

Up to 10 students per school

One accompanying teacher per school

Schools are encouraged to nominate students who demonstrate interest in observation, creativity, and problem-solving.

Bootcamp Details

Date: 27 March 2026

Venue: Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Session Venue: ED 107

Duration: One day

Lunch, refreshments, and training materials will be provided to all participants.

Agenda

09:30 – 09:40
Registration and seating of participants at the venue

09:40 – 09:50
Welcome Address by Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian
Head, Centre of Excellence for Road Safety, IIT Madras

09:50 – 10:10
Session 1: Icebreaker Activity – Adapted Traffic Light Game

10:10 – 10:25
Pre-assessment quiz to understand baseline knowledge

10:25 – 11:10
Session 2: See–Think–Wonder Activity

11:10 – 11:20
Energizer Break

11:20 – 11:30
Brief introduction to road safety concepts and transition to campus investigation

11:30 – 12:15
Session 3: Campus Safety Walk – Problem Identification

12:15 – 12:30
Group discussion on observations and problem identification

12:30 – 13:00
Synthesis and preparation of problems, followed by traffic sign design

13:00 – 13:30
Lunch Break

13:30 – 13:50
Group presentations and peer review

13:50 – 14:20
Session 4: Reflection and Commitment Session

14:20 – 14:30
Vote of Thanks

14:30 – 15:00
Certificate distribution and group photo