Health and Safety
Healthy kids, healthy communities, safe commutes
So, you’re interested in starting a Safe Routes program at your school, and you want some useful information to make your case. We’ve got your back!
There are many good reasons for children to be walking and biking to school. It gives them the exercise that they need – but it also reduces traffic, allowing everyone to benefit from a cleaner environment, reduced pollution, and less gridlock. Plus, when you promote healthy walking and biking, it’s a great opportunity to teach children traffic safety.
Find out more …
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HEALTH: Public health officials agree that everyone should get 30 minutes of physical activity every day – and children need another 20 minutes of vigorous activity several days per week. Yet 78% of young boys and girls fall short of this goal. Learn more about the role of exercise in cardiac fitness – download the heart healthy talking points PDF.
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ENVIRONMENT: Through pollution, traffic poses a continuing threat to our environmental health. Motor vehicles may be the source of more air pollution than any other single human activity. Get climate smart – download the fact sheet PDF.
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SAFETY: It’s clear that children are not learning simple traffic safety. Of the leading types of automobile accidents involving pedestrians, 33% are due to pedestrian “dart-outs,” situations where someone on foot enters or crosses the flow of traffic mid-block, often from between parked cars. Kids need to respect and use the crosswalks – download the safety talking points PDF.
