We acknowledge the conference support provided by the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign® and Nestlé. Production services were provided by staff of the Office
of Communication Resources, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Suggested Citation: Schieber RA, Vegega ME (Editors). National Strategies
for Advancing Child Pedestrian Safety. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
2001.
Few news stories are
as disturbing as that of a child killed while crossing the street. The photograph
below, winner of the 1958 Pulitzer Prize, is still unsettling. Why did it
happen? What could have prevented it? And why is it still happening more than
forty years later?
By design, our society
depends heavily on motor vehicle transportation. It sustains our economy and
influences our culture profoundly. And yet, every day, each of us is a pedestrian
who needs and deserves to share the road safely with motorists.
The right to walk safely seems fundamental, especially for children, yet
each year for more than a decade, more than 700 children have died from injuries
sustained while walking, over 500 of these in traffic. Although the fatality
rate has declined somewhat during this period, it could be attributable to
improvements in pre-hospital and emergency medical care or to a decline in
walking as a mode of transportation. As we encourage individuals to get out
and walk to combat obesity and other health conditions, we must make sure
that they have a safe environment in which to do so.
Many intelligent and
caring people, including professionals and advocates, have worked for years
to reduce child pedestrian deaths in our country. Experts in motor vehicle
safety, public health, city planning, school safety, child development, and
engineering have wrestled with the problem, each approaching it from his or
her specialty’s point of view. But these approaches are limited because the
entire solution does not rest within a single specialty. Child pedestrian
safety is one of the most complex societal problems we face in injury prevention
today.
Effective solutions to
the child pedestrian safety problem must be multifaceted and arise from a
collaboration among experts from diverse fields. This need inspired the creation
of the Panel to Prevent Pedestrian Injuries, an interdisciplinary conference
held in September 1998 to focus on reducing childhood pedestrian injuries
in the United States. Three organizations came together to spearhead the effort
and support the conference—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
working to protect the nation’s health; the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, addressing road safety; and the
National SAFE KIDS Campaign,
advocating for the safety of our children. State-of-the-art position papers
were commissioned on key topics in pediatric pedestrian injuries, including
epidemiology, education, engineering, sociology, psychology, and research.
These papers were the basis of discussion at the conference and are included
in a separate document of conference proceedings. Nearly 100 individuals representing
more than 25 professions participated in this invitational, interdisciplinary
conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Conferees from the United States, Canada,
the United Kingdom, and Australia identified key barriers to reducing pedestrian
injuries and discussed critical next steps needed to be effective. The suggestions
from that meeting are provided as strategies here.
This document is not intended to be a government plan of action, nor to provide
recommendations to the government. Rather, these strategies are intended to
be used by anyone interested in reducing pedestrian injuries among children,
while encouraging them to explore their environment by walking. We urge you
to review these strategies, consider them, and implement them. We hope this
document will inspire you to dedicate yourself to improving the safety of
child pedestrians everywhere.
Create coordinated national,
state, and local public information campaigns that increase public awareness
and understanding of:
Name and Affiliation*
|
Area(s) of Expertise |
Phyllis Agran, MD, MPH
Department of Pediatrics
Pediatric Injury Prevention Research Group
Health Policy and Research
University of California Irvine
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research
|
Barbara Alberson, MPH
California Department of Health
State and Local Injury Control Section
|
Health Education |
Heather Alhadeff, MS
Pedestrian Initiatives
Atlanta City Council
|
City Planning
Pedestrian Advocacy |
Marilena Amoni, MS
Office of Traffic Injury Control Programs
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
Traffic Safety Policy
|
Meri-K Appy
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
|
Health Education |
Jerry Bolles
United Parcel Service
Corporate Fleet Safety
|
Business Safety
|
Christine Branche, PhD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research |
Ruth Brenner, MD, MPH
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research
|
Epidemiology Research
|
Dan Burden
Walkable Communities, Inc.
|
Pedestrian Advocacy
Traffic Engineering |
LaTanya Butler
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Senior Program Administration |
Kathy Kaufer Christoffel, MD, MPH
Children’s Memorial Hospital
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Elizabeth Crane, PhD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Violence Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research
|
Michael Cynecki, MSCE
City of Phoenix
Street Transportation Department
|
Traffic Engineering |
Robert Dallas, JD
SAFE KIDS™ of Georgia
Shaw & Evans, LLC
|
Law/Lobbyist
|
Steve Davidson, MEd
Office of Injury Control
Georgia Division of Public Health
|
State Injury Prevention
Program Administration |
Lisa Dawson
Georgia Division of Public Health
|
Health Education |
Lisa Deal, RN, ScD
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
|
Philanthropy
Nursing |
David DiLillo, PhD
Consultant
|
Psychology |
John Fegan
Federal Highway Administration
|
Psychology
Traffic Engineering |
Mark Fenton, MS
Walking Magazine
|
Communications
Pedestrian Advocacy |
Sally Flocks, PhD
Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS), Inc.
|
Pedestrian Advocacy |
Richard Franklin
Department of Public Works/Transportation Services
City of Atlanta
|
Public Works Administration |
Sue Gallagher, MPH
Education Development Center, Inc.
|
Health Education |
Virginia Galvin, MD,
Cobb/Douglas County Board of Health
|
MPH District Health Officer |
Jane Garrison
Chatham County Environmental Health
|
Health Education
Pedestrian Advocacy |
Charles Gauthier
National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation
Services
|
Bus Safety Advocacy |
M. Jean Gearing, PhD, MPH
DeKalb County Board of Health
|
Anthropology |
Andrea Gielen, ScD, ScM
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Center for Injury Research and Policy
|
Health Education |
Julie Gilchrist, MD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Pediatrics
Physical Activity
Epidemiology Research
|
Carole Guzzetta
National Safety Belt Coalition
National Safety Council
|
Child Injury Prevention
Advocach
Health Education |
Jane Hansen
Atlanta Journal – Constitution
|
Communications |
Jennifer Harville, MPH
Johns Hopkins University
Central Maryland Regional Safe Communities Center
|
Health Education |
Spenser Havlick, PhD
University of Colorado Boulder City Council
|
Environmental Design
|
Timothy Hoyt, ME
Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
|
Insurance Industry |
Belinda Jackson, MPH
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
Regional Program Administration |
Mary Jagim, RN, BSN, CEN
Emergency Nurses Association
|
Nursing |
Bruce Jones, MD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research |
Frank Julian
Federal Highway Administration
|
Traffic Engineering |
Richard Killingsworth, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
|
Physical Activity |
Bo Kimsey, PhD, MSEH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
|
Epidemiology Research |
Catherine Kinney, PhD
Kinney Associates
|
Psychology |
Jennie Kronenfeld, PhD
Arizona State University
School of Health Administration and Policy
|
Medical Sociology
|
Peter Lagerwey
Seattle Transportation
|
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Program Administration |
Garry Lapidus, PA-C, MPH
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
|
Epidemiology Research |
Joey Ledford
Atlanta Journal – Constitution
|
Communications |
Kristen Lindemer, MPH
Office of Injury Control
Georgia Division of Public Health
|
Health Education
|
Lauren Marchetti
University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center
|
Health Education |
Michael Martin
National Association for Pupil Transportation
|
Bus Safety Advocacy |
Leigh Matusick
State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Florida School Crossing Guard Program
|
Crossing Guard Education |
Robin Mayer
National Outreach Division
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
Outreach Strategies |
Barbara McCann
Surface Transportation Policy Project
Transportation and Quality of Life Campaign
|
Communications
Pedestrian Advocacy
|
Patrick McMahon, MRP
University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center
|
City Planning |
Angela Mickalide, PhD
National SAFE KIDS Campaign®
|
Child Safety Advocacy |
Ted Miller, PhD
National Public Services Research Institute
|
Economics Research |
John Moffat
Washington Traffic Safety Commission
|
Law Enforcement |
Mark Norman, MS
Institute of Transportation Engineers
|
Traffic Engineering |
Genevieve O’Donnell, MPH
National SAFE KIDS Campaign®
|
Child Safety Advocacy |
David Oliver, MBA
Lowe’s Company, Inc.
|
Philanthropy |
Sarah Olson, MS, CHES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Health Education |
Immauri Patterson, MA
Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness
|
Health Education |
I. Barry Pless, MD
McGill University
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Kyran Quinlan, MD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Fred Rivara, MD, MPH
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Ian Roberts, MD, PhD
University of London
Institute of Child Health
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Michael Ronkin
Oregon Department of Transportation
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
|
State Pedestrian Program
Administration |
Mark Rosenberg, MD, MPP
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
|
Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
|
Heather Ryan
Consultant
|
Health Education |
Jeffrey Sacks, MD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research |
Peter Scheidt, MD, MPH
Children’s National Medical Center – George Washington University
|
Pediatrics Epidemiology Research |
Richard Schieber, MD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Preston Schiller, PhD
Western Washington University
|
City Planning
Environmental Design |
Joseph Schofer, PhD
Department of Civil Engineering and the Transportation Center
Northwestern University
|
Traffic Engineering |
Cara Seiderman, MCRP, MCA
Cambridge Community Development Department
|
City Planning |
David Sleet, PhD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Division of Unintentional
Injury Prevention
|
Health Education |
Howard Spivak, MD
New England Medical Center
|
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research |
Mark Stevenson, PhD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Division of Unintentional
Injury Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research
|
Deborah Davis Stewart
Safe Ride News Publication
|
Communications |
Leslie Teach, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Health Education |
Harold Thompson
National Safety Council
Partnership for a Walkable America
|
Program Administration |
Nancy Thompson, PhD, MPH
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
|
Epidemiology Research
Psychology
|
James Thomson, PhD
University of Strathclyde
|
Health Education
Psychology |
Cecil Threat
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Program Administration |
Andrew Tolmie, PhD
University of Strathclyde
|
Health Education
Psychology |
Elizabeth Towner, PhD
University of Newcastle
|
Health Education |
Maria Vegega, PhD
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Traffic
Injury Control Programs
Safety Countermeasures Division
|
Psychology
|
Claudia Vousden, RN, MPH
State and Territorial Injury Prevention
Directors’ Association
|
Nursing |
David Wallace, MS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
|
Epidemiology Research |
John Wetmore
Perils for Pedestrians
|
Communications |
Mark Widome, MD, MPH
Pennsylvania State University
|
Child Injury Prevention Advocacy
Pediatrics
Epidemiology Research
|
Bill Wilkinson
Campaign to Make America Walkable
|
Pedestrian Advocacy |
Allan Williams, PhD
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
|
Motor Vehicle Insurance
Industry Research |
Diane Winn, RN, MPH
University of California Irvine
Pediatric Injury Prevention Research Group
Health Policy and Research
|
Epidemiology Research
Nursing |
Charles Zegeer, MS
University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center
|
Traffic Engineering |
Joseph Zins, EdD
University of Cincinnati
|
Health Education
|
|
* Organizations listed reflect participants’ affiliations
at the time of the meeting.