safe kids walk this way - a pedestrian safety program for children

EMBARQ -Transforming Transportation 2009Moira Donahue

January 15, 2009

Safe Kids Walk This Way

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Safe Kids Worldwide

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Safe Kids leads coalitions of community partners to prevent unintentional injury and death to children ages 14 and under. Safe Kids empowers families and communities to:

Safe Kids MissionSafe Kids Mission

• Conduct research

• Advocate for effective laws & enforcement

• Educate adults, children & caregivers

• Create safe environments

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Injury Deaths in Children and Adolescents Under the Age of 15 years, by Cause, 2002

*“Other” includes deaths due to smothering, choking, venomous animals, electrocution, firearm incidents and war.

Source: WHO Global Burden of Disease project for 2002, version 5.

Drowning20%

Burns10%

Falls5%

Poisons5%

Violence4%

Self-Inflicted2%

All Other*28%

Road Traffic26%

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Safe Kids Walk This Way

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Program GoalsProgram Goals

• Collect data & promote results • Make long-term traffic improvements• Teach child pedestrians safe behaviors• Advocate for and strengthen laws• Increase traffic enforcement • Raise awareness among parents & drivers

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Community Needs Assessment Pilot

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Hua Mu community, Shanghai

Community Needs Assessment Pilot

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1. Meeting with Shanghai CDC and Hua Mu community members

2. Baseline survey with children

Community Needs Assessment Pilot

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2. Speed survey in areas around the school

2. Mapping routes to school

Community Needs Assessment Pilot

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3. Removing bushes blocking crosswalk access

3. Education in school with volunteers

Community Needs Assessment Pilot

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3. Removing trash can blocking crosswalk access

Access from crosswalk to sidewalk

Task Force Project

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Instituto de Cidadania Padre Josio Tavares São Paulo

AfterBefore

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PHOTOVOICE

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PHOTOVOICE - Objectives

• Capture the reality of the pedestrian environment children encounter from their perspective

• Reflect the community back upon itself and reveal social realities

• Identify pedestrian-related issues and explore solutions

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PHOTOVOICE - Methodology

• Grants & cameras provided to 7 countries • Participants – children ages 10 -14• Educational & photography sessions• Safety knowledge pre-tests• Observation & behavioral surveys• Field trips with chaperones• Post- field trip discussions• Post-research evaluation & post-tests• Photo & observation statement submission

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PHOTOVOICE - Results

I have clicked this photo from the bridge. The road is congested with people walking against and with the traffic. There is no traffic signal, nor police men. There are hawkers on the footpath and there is no space to walk. There is good greenery around it. There are people traveling on two-wheelers without helmets. People are crossing haphazardly. The road looks chaotic. Xerxes, age 12, Mumbai, India

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PHOTOVOICE - Results

The street vendor is blocking the passage of pedestrians and vehicles. He should sell his wares in the right place. Yhen, age 13, Manila, Philippines

20Because the game machine is blocking the sidewalk, children walk through the roadway. Cars are parked on the street and there is no way to walk. Hyo-seung, age 11, Seoul, South Korea

21As a pedestrian, you should be able to walk and be safe. First, the sidewalk was like rising up and someone could slip. Next, it was trashed with garbage and tires... With gas prices rising like they are, people are going to want to walk and they shouldn’t have to walk over this. Kari, age 13, Detroit, MI USA

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PHOTOVOICE - Results

• 1,676 students participated• 4,300 photographs & statements documented

• Pre-post tests• Safety knowledge increased an average 25%

• Behavioral surveys • Most children walk to & from school• Most children walk without adult supervision• Korean, Indian & Canadian children felt safe

walking near home

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PHOTOVOICE - Results

• Observation surveys• Children consistently identified that sidewalks were blocked

with cars, trash, or vendors• Children consistently identified that drivers did not yield for

pedestrians

• Post-research evaluation• Between 83% – 100% identified that they learned something

new about how to stay safe while walking

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PHOTOVOICE – Next Steps

• Education

• Public awareness• Exhibitions• Media exposure

• Phase II • Advocacy initiatives• Environmental modifications

Next Steps – Education

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Shanghai

Beijing

Mumbai

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PHOTOVOICE – Next Steps

• Exhibits• CDC Global Health Odyssey Museum, Atlanta• Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu, Philippines• Clube da Turma in M'Boi Mirim, São Paulo• Donggu Child Traffic Park, Incheon, Korea• Hua Mu Culture Center, Shanghai• NHTSA, Washington, DC • Peel District School Board, Mississauga, Ontario• Scout-Guide Pavilion, Mumbai• The World Bank, Washington, DC

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Next Steps – Public Awareness

São Paulo

Mumbai

Seoul

Washington, DC

Next Steps – Environment

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Before PHOTOVOICE After PHOTOVOICE

Shanghai

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Thank you

Moira Donahuemdonahue@safekids.org202.662.0637

Safe Kids Worldwidewww.safekids.org