Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Safe Routes to and from School are No Accident

Safe Routes to and from School are No Accident

Dear friends in safety,

We hear of tragic deaths each and every day. Here are two links to stories that recently came my way.

Girl Struck by SUV Outside Elementary School Dies

Girl, 9, dies after SUV hits bike

Both these girls died while walking or riding home from a school. Many communities throughout the U.S. are committed to creating safe routes to schools for children who are walking and riding. In fact, we want to encourage kids to walk and ride as a way to promote healthier lifestyles. Many of us grew up in communities where walking and riding were simply a way of life. Today, this just isn’t so.

One of the chief reasons parents give for not allowing or encouraging their children to walk or ride is the fast pace of traffic, along with inattentive drivers who run stops signs, do not observe crosswalks, or are busy talking or texting on a phone. In order to create safe walking or biking environments we must necessarily address traffic safety concerns – speeding, stopping at stop signs, space management, etc.

More and more communities are integrating Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 and our related initiatives into their education/public awareness efforts to influence driver behavior. We welcome the opportunity to partner with your safe routes initiatives so that everyone becomes involved in creating safer environments for all of our children to walk or bike. Why get involved? It’s simple; the lives of our children depend on it. Can they depend on us?

Visit KKAD25-Getting Started to find out how your community can implement Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 and our related initiatives. Call 402-334-1391 or e-mail kkad25@kkad25.org for on-site consultation and support. For information about Safe Routes to School in your State, please visit State SRTS Contacts.

In safety,
Tom Everson
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - A "For Impact" Organization 501(c)(3)
http://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/
402-334-1391

No comments: