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Experiential Bootcamp on Road Safety Awareness
March 27
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