Tips for keeping pedestrians safe on the roads When it comes to
keeping young walkers safe on America’s roads, the country has
made great strides: child pedestrian deaths have plunged 53
percent and injuries are down 44 percent since 1995, according
to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx. Still, the study
also indicates that bigger steps are needed to improve
pedestrian safety overall, and particularly for teenagers.
Daily, more than 61 children seek medical attention for injuries
sustained while walking, and more than 500 children die every
year in pedestrian accidents. Teenagers between the ages of 14
and 19 are now the most at-risk age group, accounting for 50
percent of child pedestrian injuries in the past five years. The
death rate among teens is now twice that of younger children.
“The study, Walking Safely: A Report to the Nation, tells us two
things,” says Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids
Worldwide. “While our focus on younger kids, through programs
such as ‘Walk this Way,’ has made a t