Latest news with #Pilla
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
‘I've had so many parents come to me with near-miss stories', says principal
Pupils at Harold's Cross Educate Together NS are using GoPro cameras as part of a new research project aimed at highlighting dangerous conditions for young pedestrians and cyclists. Cameras mounted on bikes, scooters and backpacks record the hazards schoolchildren face on their daily commutes, from speeding cars and poor infrastructure to risky junctions. The footage will be analysed to identify patterns and build a data-driven case for road safety improvements near schools. The initiative, launched during National Bike Week, is being led by University College Dublin's Professor Francesco Pilla. 'One of the main barriers to cycling – [cited by] around 50pc of participants in our previous project – said they're afraid to cycle because of driver behaviour and poor infrastructure. That's why people don't go on bikes,' he said. 'You lose ten years of life every time you go to school with your kids. The road is completely unsafe. 'Even on the footpath, things can go wrong. Cars and bikes don't stop at red lights, and we've had near misses and even children hit by other bikes. 'By capturing their unfiltered perspectives, we gain crucial insight into the challenges children face on the road, whether it's speeding, near misses or poor crossings,' he added. Harold's Cross Educate Together NS, which currently operates from temporary buildings and has no car parking, has a strong active travel culture. The school's Parents and Staff Association collaborated with Professor Pilla, whose own children attend the school, to launch the project, which aims to strengthen the case for changes such as pedestrian crossings or the appointment of a traffic warden. Most pupils and staff walk, cycle or use public transport, but principal Aoife Kelly says they are doing so in unsafe conditions. 'We've been raising this for years,' she said. 'There's no pedestrian crossing at the junction of Harold's Cross Road and Leinster Road. It's chaos in the mornings, with drivers turning while the light is red, cars flying past. The kids are now able to capture that on camera.' But she believes that without proper infrastructure, enthusiasm alone isn't enough. 'When I joined the school last year, it reminded me of Amsterdam. There are cargo bikes everywhere, it's amazing,' she said. 'But the safety just isn't there. We don't have parking, so everyone either walks, cycles or uses public transport. That should be a good thing, but the roads make it dangerous. 'I've had so many parents come to me with near-miss stories, and now the kids are telling me their own. It's got to a point where something has to change,' she added. Following the initial pilot phase, which will last as long as is necessary to test equipment and collect data, the project plans to expand to other schools across the country. 'These aren't isolated issues,' said Professor Pilla. 'We're already getting interest from other schools. The goal is to create a model that can be replicated, one that empowers children and their families to demand change.'
Hans India
30-04-2025
- General
- Hans India
Four members belonging to same family died at Simhachalam
Visakhapatnam: A pall of gloom descended on the Pilla's family as four of the family members died in the wall collapse incident occurred at Simhachalam Devasthanam in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Pilla Umamaheswara Rao (30) and his wife Pilla Shailaja (29) along with her mother P Venkataratnam and aunt G Mahalakshmi died in the incident when they were waiting for the Nijarupa darshan at the Rs.300 ticket queue line. The other family members belonging to Madhurawada were inconsolable as they lost four members of their family in the tragic incident. Both Umamaheswara Rao and Shailaja were software employees and opted for work from home. They got married three years back.
