Featured Campaigns

MAKING SCHOOL ZONES SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS

Have you seen teens crossing the street while texting? Or crossing mid-block distracted by headphones? We have.

We conducted an observational study of 39,000 teens in school zones and found that distraction is on the rise. In addition, 80 percent of the teens we observed crossing the street were doing so in an unsafe manner.

New Research Report

The new research, Alarming Dangers in School Zones, made possible by support from FedEx, reveals that school zones can be unsafe for students.

We also noted issues with drivers dropping off or picking up students, with 1 in 3 drivers doing something unsafe, like driving while on the phone, double parking or not following the rules of the road.

And many school zones need upgrades. We found crosswalks missing in 3 out of 10 crossings, and appropriate speed limits (no more than 20 mph) in only 4 out of 10 school zones.

This comes at a time when teen pedestrian deaths are on the rise. Today, five teens die every week from being hit by a car.

Let’s work together to make our communities safer.

Infographic

We’ve created a new infographic that presents the major findings from the research report.

What Communities Can Do

There are things you can do in your community to help protect kids on the move.

Identify high risk school zones and pursue proven interventions, like crosswalks, appropriate speed limits, visible signs, crossing guards and traffic lights.
Educate parents and students on safe walking and driving habits, e.g., not crossing mid-block, avoiding distractions, etc.
Set and enforce speed limits in school zones at no more than 20 miles per hour.
Implement and enforce school policies regarding drop off and pick up of students.