Abstract
Background: Although school footpaths must guarantee pedestrians’ safety and pleasantness, even facilities installed according to standards provided in “Rules on the Designation and Management of School Zones” are not maintained and managed properly and as a result they are not effective for securing the safety of school footpaths. Purpose: The present study surveyed the physical environment of elementary school footpaths and investigated problems posed by the absence of facilities. Methods: First, the current state of street structure was investigated using maps as well as field surveys, and the current state of street furniture was surveyed by checking if it has been installed and photographing it. In addition, traffic characteristics were investigated by measuring traffic safety while children’s going to school and home, and children’s behaviors on school footpaths were surveyed by observing their behaviors when going to school and home. Result: This study surveyed the installation and state of safety facilities on school footpaths around elementary schools in B City, analyzed items to be improved, and presented materials for reducing accidents among elementary students.