KidsWalk-to-School Encourages Pedestrian Safety
The number one reason parents do not allow their children to walk to
school is a fear for their safety. The safety of children as pedestrians
is a real concern. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration shows that one-fourth of children between the ages of 5 and
9 who were killed in traffic crashes in 1998 were pedestrians. Children in
this age group have not developed the skills and experience to navigate
traffic safely and judge speed and distance. Therefore, it is important to
teach and practice safe pedestrian skills with our children as well as
provide responsible adult supervision as they travel to and from school.
KidsWalk-to-School encourages improved safety on the walk to and from
school by
- Encouraging children to walk in groups.
- Organizing responsible adults to accompany the children as they walk
to and from school.
- Teaching and practicing safe pedestrian behavior on the walk to and
from school.
- Empowering neighborhoods to work together with local agencies, such
as the department of public works, to identify and create safe routes
to school.
- Partnering with local police to enforce speeds in and around the
neighborhood and school.
- Provide crossing guards for children on their way to and from
school.
In addition to traffic safety, fear of bullies or gangs loitering at
street corners, or strangers lurking in our neighborhoods may affect a
parent's willingness to allow their children to walk to school. By
encouraging children to walk in groups accompanied by adults, the risk of
danger is decreased in these situations. In addition, neighborhoods can
work together to form a Neighborhood Watch Program.
Learn more about the
Neighborhood Watch Program*
*Links to non-Federal organizations are provided
solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any
organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The
CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages
found at this link.
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