SK Walk This Way

SK Walk This Way

Safe Kids Worldwide and program sponsor FedEx created Safe Kids Walk This Way to bring national and local attention to pedestrian safety issues.

The goal of the initiative is preventing pedestrian-related injury to children. Since the launch of the program in spring 2000, Safe Kids Walk This Way has spanned the globe to reach families in more than 150 cities throughout the United States and on three continents.

What we do

Safe Kids and FedEx partner in more than 150 cities to host walk to school events. In the United States, these events take place on International Walk to School Day. Safe Kids Walk This Way also leads year-round school safety committees to improve pedestrian environments for students.

Safe Kids and FedEx have also provided grants to more than 40 communities to work with city leaders, traffic engineers and metropolitan planning organizations to improve safety for child pedestrians at high-risk locations.

How we get things done

Safe Kids Walk This Way is a multifaceted program involving high-visibility school-based events, data collection documenting risks to pedestrians in areas surrounding schools and school safety committees and community-wide pedestrian safety task forces making changes to improve walking environments.

Why it's important

In the United States, pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 5 to 14, claiming the lives of 669 children in 2001. In 2002, nearly 43,300 children were treated in emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries.

• Visit the Safe Kids Walk This Way Web Site