How poetry reduces traffic accidents amongst pupils

The World Health Organisation says road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged five to 29 years. At least 400 schoolchildren die annually in road fatalities in Uganda. Therefore, addressing mobility issues in developing country cities is a key urbanization challenge linked to the delivery of the United Nations New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially those related to transport (3,9,11).

i-CMiiST explored whether more creative co-design methods (music, storytelling, art, poetry) can reveal alternative more inclusive streetscape options that facilitate safer urban mobility. One of the case studies involved two schools in Kampala. The newspaper article describes how the local i-CMiiST creative team used creative art, storytelling, road simulations, and theatre with messages that speak to the children about road safety.

Implementing Creative Methodological Innovations for Inclusive Sustainable Transport Planning, (i-CMiiST) is funded by the British Academy’s Cities & Infrastructure programme is working with artists, practitioners, planners and policy makers to explore the potential benefits of using more creative methods to co-design urban infrastructure to enhance mobility. It is a collaboration between creative experts in the UK and East Africa with transport planners and providers and policy makers.