Child pedestrian deaths have risen by 11 percent since 2013 in the US, a new report has revealed.
Now the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling for communities to adopt and promote policies, programs and legislation that result in a safer environment for pedestrians, in its first policy statement on child pedestrian safety since 2009.
The policy statement ‘Child Pedestrian Safety’ revealed that despite an overall decline in pedestrian deaths over the past 30 years, child pedestrian deaths have risen, affecting more children ages 10-14 and teens ages 15-19.
The AAP said that the hours of 6–9pm are the riskiest times of day for child pedestrians, with 64 percent of deaths occurring in daylight hours or at dusk.
“The reminder to ‘Look both ways before you cross the street,’ is good advice, but just part of the equation,” said Sadiqa A. I. Kendi, co-author of the statement.
“Research tells us that an even more effective way to consistently improve safety is when communities take intentional steps to create pedestrian-safe environments. We live in a busy, distracted world, and when local leaders create walkable spaces, they also enhance the appeal and vibrance of their communities.”
The AAP is advocating for a ‘Vision Zero’ approach focused on the reduction of traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Vision Zero, which is being implemented in more than 45 US cities, is built on the premise that traffic injuries are a public health problem in which human error is assumed and accepted, according to the policy statement.
The effort shifts the focus away from individual behavior and toward system-wide change that, in Sweden, resulted in a 50 percent reduction in pedestrian fatalities, the organization said.
