Smart Safe School Routes

Smart Safe School Routes is a youth-led community project that aims to make journeys to and from school safer for children and families in Ealing.

I’m Pranav Patil, a Year 11 student who lives in Ealing and previously attended Montpelier Primary School. This project has been funded by Ealing Council through the Your Voice, Your Town initiative and is currently focused on the area surrounding Montpelier Primary School as a pilot, with the hope that similar ideas could be used at other schools in the future.

The project looks at the main safety issues around school drop-off and pick-up times, including traffic congestion, unsafe parking, dangerous crossing points, speeding vehicles and poor lighting. Working with Montpelier Primary School, I have already carried out a parent survey, which received over 100 responses and has helped identify the areas of greatest concern.

Over the coming months, I will carry out on-site observations and a lighting survey, identify safer walking routes and suitable “Park and Stride” locations, and produce easy-to-use maps and guidance for families. I will also prepare a set of recommendations to share with the school and Ealing Council to help improve safety around the surrounding streets.

The project is about listening to the local community and using evidence to develop practical, realistic solutions that encourage safer travel and reduce congestion around the school.

If you live in the local area, I’d love to hear your ideas and experiences. Community feedback is a vital part of the project, and updates will be shared as the work progresses.