Child road safety in Zambia
Children need safer roads, not lessons alone.
ZRST works with schools, public institutions, companies and funders to reduce risk on the journey to school. The work combines practical education with safer crossings, lower speeds, school-zone improvements, data and follow-up.
The problem
Children face risks they did not create.
Children walk beside traffic, cross busy roads and travel as passengers. Their safety depends on decisions made by road authorities, councils, schools, drivers, operators and funders.
The national figures do not show how many casualties occurred on school journeys. They do show that child road injury is a serious public problem. Read ZRST’s review of the 2025 police data.
Institutional work
What ZRST does.
School-zone assessment
Identify risks at gates, crossings, walking routes and pick-up points, then define practical action.
Public coordination
Work with councils, police, schools and responsible agencies on speed, infrastructure and supervision.
Practical learning
Prepare learners, teachers and wardens to use crossings, recognise risk and manage school access.
Evidence and follow-up
Record delivery, review site conditions and report only the changes the evidence can support.
Work in practice
Education is tied to the road and the responsible institutions.
Evidence from delivery
Work that partners can check.
Four Lusaka schools
UNDP records ZRST’s work with public partners on crossings, traffic calming, footpaths, signs and warden support at four schools.
Before-and-after study
A 2025 VTI study found lower vehicle speeds at treated schools. Only one site achieved speeds below 30 km/h, showing why follow-up still matters.
Policy and city leadership
ZRST contributed advocacy, evidence and convening within the wider coalition behind safer school routes and Zambia’s low-speed progress.
Partner with ZRST
Fund a defined school-road problem.
Start with the school, the road, the people at risk and the institution responsible. ZRST can help assess the site, define the work, coordinate delivery and document the result.
Bring us the school and the road risk.
Tell ZRST where children are exposed and what decision needs to be made. We will explain what we can do and where a public authority or specialist must lead.