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Edition 11			June 7, 2004
- STEPPING OUT-	Pedestrian Safety All-too-often, the emphasis in traffic safety is upon the automobile and other vehicles. Pedestrian safety is a vitally important and serious issue within the overall context of traffic safety. It is helpful when individuals in a range of settings each take proper precautions regarding pedestrians – this includes those who are walking, those who are driving, and others who share the roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots. This e-newsletter focuses on a new pedestrian safety program for older adults, as well as upon a program developed for the safety of children as they walk to school. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has several pedestrian safety programs. One mission of NHTSA is to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities through education, enforcement, and outreach. NHTSA encourages walking as an alternate mode of transportation to motor vehicle travel. NHTSA also seeks to improve the safety of older adults and children, two particularly high-risk populations with pedestrian incidents. Kids Walk-to-School is a program that promotes improved safety when walking to and from school. The safety of children as pedestrians is a real concern. The main reason that parents give for not allowing their children to walk to school is from fear for their safety. It is important to teach children safe pedestrian skills since young children do not have the developed skills, experience and judgment to navigate traffic safely and to judge speed and distance. Visit this site to learn more about Kids Walk-to-School and ways to encourage safety on the walk to and from school. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Pictures provided by freefoto.com			- PEDESTRIAN SAFETY -
Stepping Out is a new pedestrian safety program developed for older adults by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program was developed to fill the need for pedestrian safety materials for mature adults ages 65 and above. It includes a booklet that compiles safety information, and is intended to promote safe walking as an easy way to maintain the health of mature adults. Click here to learn more about Stepping Out.					Every year, 6,000 pedestrians are killed.
					Every year, 90,000 pedestrians are injured.
					Pedestrians age 65 and above are more than 5 times as likely to die in traffic crashes than those ages 14 or less.
					In 2000, approximately one-fourth (23%) of children between the ages of 5 and 9 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. In 2002, Virginia had 930 traffic fatalities; 92 of them (9.9%) were pedestrian fatalities.
					Pedestrian injuries and fatalities result in $20 billion in societal costs.
				Fact Sheet Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Highway Administration, and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Kids Walk-to-School Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles: Pedestrian Safety National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Pedestrian Safety Tips National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Stepping Out
George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Public Health has completed numerous traffic safety campaigns. To review and download these campaigns and others, visit: http://www.caph.gmu.edu/Campaigns.htm
Funded by a grant from Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles P.O. Box 27412 Richmond, VA 23269 http://www.dmv.state.va.us		George Mason University Center for the Advancement of Public Health 4400 University Dr., MS1F5 Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 http://www.caph.gmu.edu