Campaign aims to keep child pedestrians safe after school
Washington – Between 2000 and 2010, more than one-third of all child pedestrian fatalities – 1,200 – occurred during after-school hours (3-7 p.m.), according to AAA.
An estimated 55 million children are projected to attend school in 2012, with 13 percent expected to walk or bike between home and school, the organization stated in a press release. AAA’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully campaign offers tips to drivers to help reduce the risk of a child pedestrian injury:
- Follow school zone speed limits. Vehicles traveling 25 mph are two-thirds less likely to kill a pedestrian than vehicles traveling 35 mph.
- Keep your eyes on the road. Children may appear suddenly in the roadway, and being distracted for only two seconds doubles your crash risk.
- Before backing up, check behind and around your vehicle for children on the sidewalk or driveway.
- Come to a complete stop at crossings and check for children on sidewalks.
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