A national survey showed there are approximately 56 million walking trips every day in the United States. Family and personal business accounts for 43 percent of these walking trips, with another 34 percent for social and recreational purposes. Fourteen percent of walking trips involve travel to school or religious activities, while only 7 percent of these trips involves commuting to work.

Prevent Pedestrian Crashes: Preschool Children

Preschool children are quick and often unaware of danger. Each year, many children are injured or killed when they suddenly dart into the path of a car.

• Most preschoolers are injured near their home or on their own street.
• Most crashes involving preschool children happen between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Most crashes involving preschoolers occur in fair or warm weather.
• Twice as many preschool boys are injured than preschool girls.

Tips to prevent these tragedies:

• Supervise preschoolers at all times. Preschoolers should NOT be allowed to cross the street alone. Teach them who can help them cross the street safely. 
  
• Teach by explaining. Explain to your child the safe way you cross a street. Say: "When I cross a street, I always stop at the curb. I look for cars. I look left for any traffic coming, and then I look right for traffic coming that way. Then I look left again. When it is clear, I cross the street, and keep looking left and right."
  
• Teach by example. When you cross a street with your child, always:

• Stop at the curb.
• Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT for traffic in all directions.
• Cross when it is clear.
• Keep looking for cars as you cross.

• Encourage your child. As you both safely cross the street together, praise the child for copying your safe actions or words. Practice what you teach at ALL times.

Elementary School Children

Myth: A green light means that it is safe to cross.

Fact: A green light means that you may stop and search for cars. Before you step off the curb, look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT, and if it is safe to do so, cross and keep looking left and right as you do so. Be alert for vehicles making a right turn on red.

Myth: You are safe in a crosswalk.

Fact: You may cross at a crosswalk, but before you do, you must stop at the curb. Look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT for cars. When it is clear, cross and keep looking left and right.

Myth: If you see the driver, the driver sees you.

Fact: The driver may not see you. Make certain the driver sees you and stops before you cross in front of the car. Try to make eye contact with the driver.

Myth: Wearing white at night makes you visible to drivers.

Fact: Even if you and your child wear white clothes, drivers will have a difficult time seeing you at night. Carry a flashlight. Wear retro-reflective clothing. Walk facing traffic.

Older pedestrian crashes:

Older pedestrians (ages 70+) account for 11 percent of all pedestrian fatalities and 2 percent of all pedestrian injuries. The death rate for this group, both males and females, was 1.90 per 100,000 population.

Addressing the pedestrian safety issue:

Pedestrian injuries represent the second largest category of motor vehicle-related deaths.

Increasing pedestrian and motorist awareness of pedestrian safety issues is the key to reducing the problem of pedestrian motor vehicle-related deaths.

Engineering, education, and enforcement are all important tools for traffic safety professionals. None of them alone is as cure-all, but together they can bring about significant safety improvements for pedestrians and motorists.

Engineering: The first step to creating a safe environment for pedestrians and motorists is to change the fundamental perception of roadways as solely the motorist's domain. It is important to consider pedestrians' needs as a part of routine planning. Appropriate lighting, signing, striping, and intersection design can all be used to reduce dangers to pedestrians.

Education: Education for all road users helps ensure safe travel habits and awareness about the needs of pedestrians. Successful pedestrian safety programs often take a two-pronged approach: educating traffic and civic professionals, and educating the public. It is also important for any educational outreach effort to consider the driver's perspective without minimizing pedestrians' needs and rights.

Enforcement: Effective enforcement includes citing pedestrians and motorists who violate traffic laws. States can take steps to encourage pedestrian enforcement at the local level, as well as examine codes and practices that may discourage walking (i.e. not providing sidewalks). However, much of what can be done about enforcement and regulation of pedestrian actions occurs at the local level. Areas with high concentrations of pedestrian infractions and pedestrian-related motor vehicle crashes should be targeted for high enforcement. In many cases, revisions of local traffic rules or consideration of new laws are needed to promote and encourage safer pedestrian activities.