For immediate release: October 4, 2005 (05-126)

Contacts:
Mary Borges, SAFE KIDS Coalition Coordinator 360-236-3606
Deanna Whitman, Communications Office 360-236-4022

Kids: Stay Safe on the Streets, "Walk this way"
October 3-7 is International Walk to School Week

OLYMPIA ¾ Daylight savings time is ending, and many children will soon be walking to school in the dark. Students may also be hitting the streets this week in celebration of International Walk to School Week. This is a great time to remind parents to teach their children pedestrian safety and remind drivers to be on the lookout for children on the roads.

"Walking is an important and healthy activity, but everyone must do their part to keep kids safe," said Mary Borges, Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator.

The majority of child-pedestrian deaths by a motor vehicle occurred on a driveway or city street. The Washington State Safe Kids Coalitions are promoting pedestrian safety through the Safe Kids Walk This Way Program in an effort to keep kids protected while on the streets. Schools and community groups (http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2005_news/documents/walkwa.pdf) across the state will be out in force to promote pedestrian safety and increase physical activity among school children.

Community groups will be conducting classroom education, escorting children to and from school and serving on school-based pedestrian safety committees. The program teaches children safe pedestrian behaviors, which may prevent injuries and death:

• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
• Always cross at a crosswalk or intersection.
• Obey traffic signals.
• Children younger than 10 years old should be supervised by an adult when around motor vehicles.
• Make sure drivers see you when they’re backing out of a driveway.
• Determine the safest route with parents.

The Safe Kids Walk This Way Program also helps school communities identify pedestrian hazards surrounding their schools, organize school-pedestrian safety committees and task forces, enforce traffic laws and improve environments for child pedestrians.

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