Despite an increase in school-related traffic accidents, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, has so far refused to ban motor vehicles from entering the city's school grounds.

"In response to such accidents, we can hardly prohibit cars or buses from entering all the city's schools," an official surnamed Liang with the Guangzhou Education Bureau said yesterday.

On November 18, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a car driven by a female teacher at Fudu Primary School in the city's Panyu District.

The accident happened in the school's parking area, which is near classrooms.

In the wake of the accident, cars and buses were immediately banned from entering the school.

"A city-wide ban cannot be imposed because some schools occupy large areas and it is impossible to ban official vehicles from entering schools," Liang said.

According to Liang, the city's educational authority will encourage all schools to place more emphasis on student safety.

"We recommend schools strengthen control over cars and buses entering school grounds and also increase student road safety education," Liang said.

According to existing regulations, schools must have clearly marked parking areas away from classrooms.

To prevent accidents, traffic signs should be introduced to school grounds, Liang said.

Despite the educational authority's recommendations, many parents in the city believe a ban is a must.

"Schools should set aside more areas for students instead of cars," said Liu Qinhuang, whose daughter attends the Fudu school, where the 10-year-old boy was killed last week.

He is considering transferring his 8-year-old girl to another school.

Two weeks before the boy's death, parents had suggested the school ban vehicles on campus at a parents' meeting, Liu said.

But the school did not accept the proposal.

Shortly after the boy's death, the education department in Panyu banned cars and buses from entering schools in the district.

Traffic accidents are the top killer of primary and middle school students in Guangzhou.

About 125 people under the age of 18 were killed in traffic accidents in the city last year, of those, 85 percent were primary and middle school students, reports said.

(China Daily November 23, 2005)