Evaluation of Road Safety at School Zones Using the iRAP Star Ratings for Schools Tool: The Case Study of Arnavutkoy, Istanbul

Worldwide, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability among children aged 15 to 19 and rank as the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 14. In 2022, there were 1,232,957 crashes on Turkiye's road network, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. Among all such crashes, 197,261 caused death or injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze road safety surrounding schools in Istanbul's Arnavutköy area. This study deploys the iRAP Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology. A field survey of 10 schools in the Arnavutköy, Mustafa Kemal Paşa Neighborhood and a road safety inspection were conducted, determining the star rating for each school. Effective and evidence-based infrastructure interventions were proposed to reduce road risks and increase road safety around these schools. The results showed that road safety around schools should be improved. As the star rating results demonstrate, 6 schools fell below the star rating of 3 stars, and among them, 4 schools were even below 2 stars, indicating a higher risk for vulnerable road users. Implementing and sustaining a long-term strategy for street design that prioritizes children requires a collaborative effort from different organizations and stakeholders. The findings of this study can be utilized in other locations to assist authorities in improving and upgrading the road infrastructure for safer routes to schools.