Safe Kids Walk This Way - A Pedestrian Safety Program for Children

EMBARQ -Transforming Transportation 2009 Moira Donahue January 15, 2009 Safe Kids Walk This Way

Safe Kids Worldwide

Safe Kids leads coalitions of community partners to prevent unintentional injury and death to children ages 14 and under. Safe Kids empowers families and communities to: Safe Kids Mission

Conduct research

Advocate for effective laws & enforcement

Educate adults, children & caregivers

Create safe environments

Injury Deaths in Children and Adolescents Under the Age of 15 years, by Cause, 2002 *“Other” includes deaths due to smothering, choking, venomous animals, electrocution, firearm incidents and war. Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease project for 2002, version 5.

Safe Kids Walk This Way

Program Goals

Collect data & promote results

Make long-term traffic improvements

Teach child pedestrians safe behaviors

Advocate for and strengthen laws

Increase traffic enforcement

Raise awareness among parents & drivers

Community Needs Assessment Pilot Hua Mu community, Shanghai

Community Needs Assessment Pilot 1. Meeting with Shanghai CDC and Hua Mu community members 2. Baseline survey with children

Community Needs Assessment Pilot 2. Speed survey in areas around the school 2. Mapping routes to school

Community Needs Assessment Pilot 3. Removing bushes blocking crosswalk access 3. Education in school with volunteers

Community Needs Assessment Pilot 3. Removing trash can blocking crosswalk access Access from crosswalk to sidewalk

Task Force Project Instituto de Cidadania Padre Josio Tavares São Paulo After Before

PHOTOVOICE

PHOTOVOICE - Objectives

Capture the reality of the pedestrian environment children encounter from their perspective

Reflect the community back upon itself and reveal social realities

Identify pedestrian-related issues and explore solutions

PHOTOVOICE - Methodology

Grants & cameras provided to 7 countries

Participants – children ages 10 -14

Educational & photography sessions

Safety knowledge pre-tests

Observation & behavioral surveys

Field trips with chaperones

Post- field trip discussions

Post-research evaluation & post-tests

Photo & observation statement submission

PHOTOVOICE - Results I have clicked this photo from the bridge. The road is congested with people walking against and with the traffic. There is no traffic signal, nor police men. There are hawkers on the footpath and there is no space to walk. There is good greenery around it. There are people traveling on two-wheelers without helmets. People are crossing haphazardly. The road looks chaotic. Xerxes, age 12, Mumbai, India

PHOTOVOICE - Results The street vendor is blocking the passage of pedestrians and vehicles. He should sell his wares in the right place. Yhen, age 13, Manila, Philippines

Because the game machine is blocking the sidewalk, children walk through the roadway. Cars are parked on the street and there is no way to walk. Hyo-seung, age 11, Seoul, South Korea

As a pedestrian, you should be able to walk and be safe. First, the sidewalk was like rising up and someone could slip. Next, it was trashed with garbage and tires... With gas prices rising like they are, people are going to want to walk and they shouldn’t have to walk over this. Kari, age 13, Detroit, MI USA

PHOTOVOICE - Results