Walking in a school zone could be the most dangerous part of your child's school day.
So put pedestrian safety high on the list of subjects to review with the entire family before Metro Nashville Public Schools reopen for a half-day of class this Thursday, Aug. 12.
There are multiple causes for car accidents involving child pedestrians. Firstly, vehicle drivers can be at fault.
According to Safe Kids USA, one out of six vehicles moving through a school zone is being driven by a distracted driver. Safe Kids USA's 2009 study, called Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report counted more than 40,000 observations of drivers in school zones in the United States. The leading distraction observed was, no surprise, use of an electronics device. But drivers were also observed attempting all the common car accident-causing activities: eating, drinking, smoking, grooming, reading, or reaching for something elsewhere in the vehicle.
"With recent research demonstrating that the driving skills of a distracted driver are as bad as or worse than an intoxicated driver, the overall relevance of this study is clear," says Moira Donahue, the director of Walk This Way, Safe Kids USA's pedestrian safety program. "Almost one in six drivers in a school zone behaves like a drunk driver."
The morning commute might seem like the most harried time for drivers. But a five-year study of pedestrian trends shows that drivers are actually 22 percent more likely to be driving distracted in the afternoon. Approximately 55 percent of car accidents resulting in the death of a child occurred between 3 and 7 p.m.
Distracted driving isn't the only factor in child pedestrian fatalities, though. Youth and inexperience cause car accidents, too.
The aforementioned five-year study shows that the youngest drivers, those in the 16- to 25-year-old age range, are responsible for 26.28 percent of the accidents that result in child pedestrian fatalities. That's more than any other age group. Plus, child pedestrians themselves need extra guidance around traffic, even within a designated school zone. Kids under the age of 10, typically, have not yet developed the skills necessary to judge how far away a car is nor how quickly it is approaching. Children's cognitive, developmental, behavioral, physical and sensory abilities may not be ready to handle all the information coming at them along a busy street.
Before the Nashville school year starts, talk with the young drivers in your family. Insist that they make driving the #1 priority when they're behind the wheel. Remind them that Metro Nashville Public Schools maintain 15 mph speed limits in school zones. Also, pay attention to crossing guards in school zones. Failure to stop for a crossing guard carries the same penalty as driving past a stop sign! And remind everybody to be extra cautious when driving in residential areas where children might be outside playing. Car accidents often can be prevented just by paying attention.
As you prepare for going back to school, make sure even a short jaunt to the bus stop is approached with care. Talk with your little pedestrians about safe behavior while walking to and waiting at their bus stop. Also, you can help drivers see your children by using retroreflective materials and light and bright colors on outerwear and backpacks, especially if your children will be on the streets during twilight or dusk hours.
Of 52 large metropolitan areas, the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin area is the 28th most dangerous for pedestrians, according to Transportation For America. Tennessee as a whole averages about 1.08 pedestrian fatalities for every 100,000 people. The U.S. average is 1.53. On the local scale, the Nashville metropolitan area pedestrian risk index is 70.2 (of a possible 100). The national risk is 52.1. Let's lower those statistics, Nashville!
Metro Nashville Public Schools' first full day of class for grades 1-12 is Monday, Aug 16. Get more tips for parents and students at the Metro schools website.
About this Author
Mitch Grissim,
Mitch lives on the lake east of Nashville in Sumner County and attends the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville. When not in the office, Mitch enjoys working out and training for running events. A love for boating led Mitch to obtain his United States Coast Guard Captain's License in 2004, which he puts to use several times a year boating in South Florida along the Atlantic coast, and in the Keys.
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