Abstract:
This research focuses on the pressing issue of absence of a safe school transportation in
the context of disaster risk reduction in Pakistan and considers school transportation
issue a man-made hazard that poses risks to education, health, urban environment and
life. Despite the heightened susceptibility of students to transportation-related risks, there
exists a notable gap in policies and regulations addressing this concern in developing
countries. Utilizing a survey-based methodology guided by the Theory of Planned
Behavior, the study gathered responses from 900 parents of school-going children and
university students. The findings unveil paradoxical behaviors, wherein individuals opt
for risky transportation modes as per past studies despite being aware of associated
hazards. The study underscores the immediate need for comprehensive national DRR
policy-based framework, enhanced infrastructure, and financial interventions to bolster
school transportation safety in Pakistan. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach and
drawing insights from successful models in developed countries, this research
contributes significantly to the field of disaster risk reduction. The identified solutions
are poised to bridge the existing gap in literature and pave the way for resilient urban
development in the face of man-made hazard
