School Guidelines to Enhance Road Safety Around Educational Institutions in Moldova
The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, in partnership with Slovenian authorities and with the support of the European Union, and Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova, promoted and highlighted the importance of implementing Safer to School guidelines. An event organised this Tuesday in Chișinău addressed the issue of road safety around educational institutions.
Safer to School guidelines offer ready-to-implement measures aimed at increasing road safety for children around schools. Originating from the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency and currently being successfully implemented in Slovenia, these guidelines could serve as an inspiration for enhancing road safety in Moldova.
Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, Mr Matej Zakonjšek, invited the stakeholders to join efforts in implementing comprehensive measures and guidelines to enhance the safety of our school zones and added that every morning, as children walk or cycle to school, they should be safe. “They should have no fear of danger. Yet, the reality is different. Our school zones are not as safe as they should be,” he underlined.
He pointed out that Moldova recorded 87 fatalities in road crashes per million inhabitants in 2024, which starkly contrasts the EU average of 44 fatalities per million inhabitants, and stressed that the goal of the Transport Community and Moldovan authorities is to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 and reach 0 deaths on the road by 2050. “Through our Action Plan for Road Safety, we are working hand-in-hand with Moldova’s authorities to achieve this goal,” he concluded.
“The recommendations of the guide we are launching today must be applied with full seriousness. Every road marking, every sign, every traffic light can save lives. The safety of children is non-negotiable, it is both a political and moral responsibility,” said Mr Nikolai Mindra, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of Moldova. He also called on local authorities to turn this guide into a living tool, applied every day, for safer communities and for a better future for the children in the Republic of Moldova.
In Moldova, the number of fatalities and seriously injured children in road traffic crashes is worrisome, showing the risks faced by the youngest and most vulnerable road users.
These numbers underscore the pressing need for action to prevent further tragedies and ensure the safety of our children on the roads, including on their journey to and from school.
The Transport Community, in collaboration with Slovenian authorities, stands ready to support authorities of Moldova in implementing the Safer to School guidelines. By adapting best practices from the EU to local needs, we aim to significantly improve traffic safety around educational institutions, thereby safeguarding the lives of children in school zones.
The Transport Community is also committed to partnering with various authorities and civil society to enhance transport in Moldova. By implementing EU standards and best practices, we strive to create safer roads and a brighter future for all.
BACKGROUND
The Transport Community is an international organisation focusing on mobility and transport. It includes 36 participants: EU member states, the Western Balkans, and three observing participants (Georgia, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine). The organisation aims to integrate the Western Balkans’ and observing participants’ transport markets into the EU and supports the region in implementing EU transport legislation.
The Transport Community’s Action Plan for Road Safety seeks to significantly reduce road fatalities and injuries. Access the Action Plan here.
Additionally, the Western Balkans Road Safety Observatory (WBRSO) monitors road safety targets and works towards improved road safety data across the region. Access WBRSO here.
This event is financed by the European Union under the grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452688 to the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community related to preparatory activities to support the progressive involvement of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the activities of the Transport Community.
