WASHINGTON — Drivers, be aware — it’s International Walk to School Day, and you may see more children than usual walking and biking along roads and trying to cross area streets.
Organizers of Walk to School Day events hope to get children to develop healthier habits. They also say the environment will benefit if fewer cars drive children to school, and they’re trying to get city planners to think about ways to make streets safer for walkers and cyclists.
Lots of local schools are participating Wednesday, so drivers are being asked to slow down, pay extra attention and realize children might not be familiar with the rules of the road.
Additional advice from the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education and AAA Mid-Atlantic:
- Go directly to or from your destination using the safest route. Cross at corners.
- Cooperate with police, crossing guards and school safety patrols.
- Learn and obey all traffic signals.
- Walk across streets. Allow yourself plenty of time. Continue to look for approaching vehicles.
- Stop, look and listen and watch for turning vehicles.
- If you must walk on a road that has no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and as far from the road as possible.
- Be extra alert in bad weather — drivers have trouble seeing and stopping in bad weather.
- If you must walk in the dark, wear reflective or light-colored clothing and carry a flashlight.
- Stay alert. Don’t assume that cars are going to stop.
