Safe Kids Walk This Way

Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children in the United States ages 5 to 14. In Kansas, 43 percent of the children age 0-14 hospitalized for pedestrian injury were age 5-9 (1999 and 2000). Children cannot judge speed, distance or direction well and are easily distracted. Young children think that if they can see a car, the car can see them.

Walk Your Child to School Day is an annual state-wide safe pedestrian event targeting K-3 school-age children that encourages parents to teach children about pedestrian safety and to make communities aware of the difficulties and dangers children may face on their trip to school each day. Special events are held in various cities in the state and over 12,000 incentives are provided to participating students each year during the event. The event is usually held in October on International Walk Your Child To School Day. Click here to sign up your school. While one day a year is specifically set aside for this initiative, please use the materials below to implement a pedestrian safety program in your area on any and all days of the year!

2009 International Walk to School Day

It's time to start planning your 2009 Walk to School Day celebrations! This year, International Walk to School Day is October 7. Be sure to check out the links below for ideas and information to plan your own celebration. Complete the sign-up sheet for your school and you will receive reflective zipper pulls for your students. Register early as quantities are limited and sent out on a first-come basis. Schools that register for Walk to School Day through Safe Kids Kansas will automatically be registered with the International Walk to School Day web site. Click here to register your school now!

Introduction – letters from Safe Kids Kansas and KDOT (coming soon)
Pedestrian Safety Fact Sheet
| How to Participate
| 2009 Sign-up Form

Resources for a Successful Walking Program
            Event Ideas
|             Program Variations
|             Walking School Bus
|             Bike Train
           
Curriculum
            Lesson Plans
|             Pedestrian Safety for K-3
|             Traffic Signs for Use with Lesson Plans

Activities for Kids
            Coloring Pages
|             Draw Your Walking Route
|             Word Search
|             www.ottoclub.org

Safety Information and Checklists
            Pedestrian Tip Sheet
|             Child Pedestrian Safety Rules
|             Pedestrian Safety Checklist (English and Spanish)
|             Walkability Checklist

Promotional Materials
            Sample Proclamation
           
Research
            Latest Trends in Child Pedestrian Safety
|             Child Pedestrian Safety Report
|             Walk a Mile

Additional Resources
            www.usa.safekids.org/wtw/
|             www.walktoschool.org
|             www.ksdot.org/burTrafficEng/sztoolbox/default.asp