November 2004, #26


Parent Safety Team Created

From one creative idea sprouts another and another and.. which is what makes a collaborative effort such as Walk & Roll to School Day so much fun and valuable to our community as it creates new ideas to keep our kids safe.

Edison Elementary School started the process of developing a Safety Partners Team. Gail Van Winkle, Edison parent & Walk & Roll to School Day coordinator, took the initiative to obtain reflective bright yellow vests and to enlist the assistance of some parents. These volunteers were visible at key intersections where those walking or bicycling to school have found it difficult to cross. They were there to assist youth cross the street, to alert drivers, and to ensure that common courtesy was extended to all.

According to Gail, this is a trial program with the goal, "To increase driver awareness of pedestrians/cyclists and to promote traffic safety at all four corners of Edison School. We got off to a good start with some enthusiastic parents volunteering and while we aren't able to have a crew out every day, we plan to periodically have them out as a visible reminder of the need for safe driving."

One of the greatest concerns at every school is traffic congestion and the dangerous actions by drivers when dropping off or picking up their children. "Children do not see traffic the way adults do. Younger children in particular do not have the ability to deal with moving vehicles. They have underdeveloped directional hearing, narrow peripheral vision and cannot judge speed and distance the way older children and adults can," says the manager of AAA's Traffic Safety Department.

"All drivers, not just parents, need to know about these differences," she continued. "It's up to the drivers to protect the children, because the children can't protect themselves."

Safety Tips to Parents: Do not double park, stop on crosswalks, or block visibility for children or other motorists. Have all children exit from the curbside door. Do not park across the street and ask your child to "run across". Leave a little earlier to avoid rushing.

Volunteer, Bob Lewis, said, "I certainly captured the attention of a majority of drivers going by. However, there were still some driving in a haze who failed to notice or yield to people in the crosswalk."

Kari Bast-Payne, who led a "walking school bus" from the Fernside area, said, "Cars really responded to the vest and it made it so much easier to cross High Street, normally a very dangerous crossing.”

There was an unexpected benefit at the Lincoln and Broadway crossing which was discovered to be as difficult for adults as for kids. The Safety Partner there received vocal appreciation from people trying to cross to catch their bus!

“I know we have so little time in our hectic lives these days, but how silly to push into an intersection to save a few seconds on your commute and risk the safety of children on their way to school,” said Safety Partner Joyce Mercado.

It is hoped that other school PTAs will develop Safety Teams – many more bright yellow vests seen throughout the community will be a definite message to everyone to slow down around schools and drop kids off in a safe and courteous manner.

If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle safety, please call Sergeant Ted Horlbeck, Alameda Police Traffic Department at 337-8300. John Knox White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org) and Bike Alameda (www.bikealameda.org).

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