WASHINGTON, Oct.
7 /PRNewswire/ -- New research unveiled today by the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign and FedEx Express revealed that nearly half of motorists are
not stopping at stop signs near school zones and in residential areas
across the nation, potentially endangering children as they travel to
and from school each day.
Stop Sign Violations
Put Child Pedestrians at Risk: A National Survey of Motorist Behavior
at Stop Signs in School Zones and Residential Areas examines the frequency
of driver compliance with stop signs at unsignalized, marked and unmarked
pedestrian crosswalks near schools and in residential areas.
Other findings
include:
* Of vehicles
surveyed, more than a third (37 percent) of motorists rolled through
stop signs at intersections and nearly a tenth (7 percent) of motorists
did not even slow down before stop signs.
* At intersections
with marked crosswalks, one quarter (25 percent) of vehicles stopped
in or past the crosswalks.
* When only child
pedestrians were present, nearly a third (32 percent) of motorists
violated the stop signs.
* At intersections
where pedestrians were crossing, nearly a quarter (24 percent) of
drivers did not come to a complete stop.
Despite the fact
that decreased rates of walking have contributed to a significant decline
in child pedestrian deaths and injuries, pedestrian injury remains a
leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children.
Each year, stop sign violations are associated with approximately 200
fatal crashes and 17,000 non-fatal injury crashes. Children are at risk
of injury when stop sign and pedestrian right-of-way laws are violated.
Thousands of FedEx
volunteers will join with the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and local
SAFE KIDS coalitions across the U.S. on Wednesday, October 8, to teach
students safe pedestrian behaviors, identify dangerous pedestrian hazards
and work with school communities to improve environments for child pedestrians,
as part of International Walk to School Day.
"The majority
of motorists are putting child pedestrians at serious risk because they
fail to stop at stop signs or crosswalks," says Dr. Martin Eichelberger,
president of SAFE KIDS and director of Emergency Trauma and Burn Services
at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The National SAFE
KIDS Campaign and FedEx Express call upon SAFE KIDS coalitions and chapters,
as well as other safety, transportation, health and environmental advocates,
to work toward safer traffic environments. These actions include assessing
pedestrian conditions in residential areas, participating in school-based
activities like International Walk to School Day and advocating for
more funding for programs such as Safe Routes to School.
"Safety is
a core FedEx value and the first consideration in all our operations,
particularly when it comes to child pedestrians," said David J.
Bronczek, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Express. "Through
our ongoing relationship with SAFE KIDS, we are committed to using our
safety expertise and employee volunteer support to make a meaningful
difference in the communities where our employees live and work."
For more information
or for a copy of Stop Sign Violations Put Child Pedestrians at Risk:
A National Survey of Motorist Behavior at Stop Signs in School Zones
and Residential Areas, contact the National SAFE KIDS Campaign at 202-662-0600
or visit www.safekids.org. To find local International Walk to School
Day events, please visit www.walktoschool.org.
The National SAFE
KIDS Campaign is the first and only national nonprofit organization
dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury
-- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than 300
state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia and Puerto Rico, comprise the Campaign.
SAFE KIDS Walk This
Way, a grassroots pedestrian safety initiative in more than 300 schools
nationwide, is made possible through support from program sponsor FedEx
Express. Through this year-round program, children learn safe pedestrian
behaviors; school communities identify the pedestrian hazards surrounding
their schools; and school pedestrian safety committees and task forces
lead efforts to educate pedestrians and drivers about safe behaviors,
enforce traffic laws and improve environments for child pedestrians.
International Walk
to School Day is dedicated to walking to school with a purpose -- to
promote physical activity, safety, health and concern for the environment.
International Walk to School Day is promoted nationally by The Partnership
for a Walkable America. www.walktoschool.org
Source: National
SAFE KIDS Campaign
