PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Chatterton Elementary School is located in the heart of a very busy and populated area of Long Island, New York. Chatterton staff were concerned with the fact that the majority of the school's students are transported to school by car, resulting in tremendous traffic and pedestrian hazards in the parking lots, on school grounds and on surrounding roadways. During the 1999-2000 school year, teachers reported multiple episodes of near-miss, hit-and- run incidents, and motor vehicle crashes.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In order to increase awareness of the hazards children face on the streets, particularly when traveling to school, the Nassau County SAFE KIDS coalition created Walking With a Mission in 2000. Primary objectives of the project are to:

• Educate students on how to get to school safely, whether by walking, on bike, or crossing the streets when being dropped off at school

• Focus education efforts primarily on elementary students, while incorporating school personnel, parents and community residents into the process

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Members of the Nassau County SAFE KIDS Coalition developed and implemented a one-month pedestrian safety program, Walking With a Mission, for presentation to students at Chatterton Elementary. After incorporating input from school staff, the following activities were conducted:

• Pedestrian safety information was incorporated into physical education classes

• Safety messages were presented each day through the school public address system

• A safety poster contest was conducted for kindergarten through fourth grade students

• The school's parent-teacher association sponsored a presentation on pedestrian safety by trauma nurses

• A Halloween parade entitled Walking with a Mission—SAFETY, culminated the program's month-long activities. The parade was conducted along the main roadways surrounding the school, with participants carrying traffic safety banners, posters and safety plaques

• The Long Island branch of Federal Express donated giveaway items, signs, banners and contest prizes, and local employees helped students with the Halloween parade

RESULTS
During the 1999-2000 school year, Walking With a Mission was presented to 500 students at Chatterton Elementary. The pedestrian safety program also brought together 500 parents, 50 school staff members, 40 Federal Express volunteers, 25 volunteers from the Nassau County SAFE KIDS coalition, and local police and firemen, to assist in the safety presentations and participate in the Halloween parade with the students. Pedestrian activity around Chatterton will continue to be monitored to evaluate the long-term effects of Walking With a Mission.

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

WINTER 2001