DOT Safety Education News

This week children all over the city are heading back to school. DOT’s number one priority is safety, and we are doing everything we can to help millions of children get to and from school safely, whether on foot, by bike, car or bus. Over the past three years through our Safe Routes to Schools program we have made short-term safety improvements at 135 elementary and middle schools citywide, and we are beginning longer term construction projects to enhance safety even more. We have also selected a second round of 135 elementary and middle schools for study.
 
DOT's safety educators also offer programs throughout the year for children across the five boroughs from elementary school all the way through high school, addressing traffic safety issues targeted to their age groups. Third grade students can visit one of DOT's six Safety Cities to learn and practice how to be safer pedestrians, bicyclists and passengers. And City safety educators visit schools across the city to share information with students in grades K–12.
 
This year, DOT is also installing pedestrian countdown signals at 1,500 intersections citywide. These new signals display LED numbers that count down the number of seconds remaining before the "flashing hand" on the pedestrian signal turns solid red. Studies have shown these signals help pedestrians decide whether there is enough time to cross the street safely and reduce the number of pedestrians still in crosswalks during the "don't walk" phase of the light.
 
But we need your help, too. If you’re a parent or a caretaker you can teach your children about the traffic safety tips below and model good behavior on the streets. And we ask the city's drivers to slow down, stay alert and think about safety, too, especially around schools.
 
Thank you for your help in this effort. Together we can make New York City’s streets even safer for all New Yorkers, young and old.
 
Sincerely,

Janette Sadik-Khan
Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation

• Use your school's safety map to plan the safest route to take. Maps are available for public, parochial and private schools in New York City.
• Children 10 years old or younger should always cross the street with an adult.
• The safest place to cross is at a corner or intersection. Crossing from in between parked cars or running out into the street can be very dangerous.
• Remind your child to stop and check the pedestrian signal before he or she steps off the curb to cross. Always look left-right-left before you start to cross to see if cars and other vehicles are coming. DOT's new pedestrian countdown signals will also help encourage young and old alike to give themselves enough time to get across the street safely and not take unnecessary risks by crossing against the light.
• If your child rides a school bus or public bus to school, remind him or her to wait on the sidewalk until the bus comes. Children should walk 10 steps away from the bus in front and alongside it so the driver can see them.

• Get the rules of the road in DOT's Bike Smart brochure, which includes New York City safety laws as well as helpful tips for safe riding.
• Wearing a helmet is always the safest way to ride, and children 13 and under are required to wear a helmet by law.
• Be sure your child's helmet fits correctly. It should fit low on the forehead, about two fingers above the eyebrows, and should be snug around the head and under the chin. An illustration of a correctly fitted helmet may be found here.
• Stay visible! Wearing bright or light colored clothing helps cyclists stay more visible to drivers. Also make sure your children's bikes are equipped with retro-reflective materials on the wheels, front and back of the bike, and on helmet, shoes and clothing. A white headlight and a red taillight are required for riding after dark.

• Be sure everyone in your car buckles up on every trip – adults, teens and older children in safety belts; and infants, toddlers and young children in car seats or booster seats.
• Slow down and be extra alert in school zones. Take extra time to watch for children crossing in crosswalks and mid-block in the morning and after school hours.
• Double parking or blocking school buses around a school puts children at risk. Find a place to drop off and pick up your child at school that is safe and doesn't interfere with children entering or leaving the school.
• Reduce distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and surroundings. No cell phones or texting while you are behind the wheel!
• Take the Back to School Safety Pledge at Safe Kids USA.

• NYC Department of Transportation Safety Programs for safety tips and educational materials.
• Safe Kids USA for safety tips and activities for kids.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for pedestrian safety information and activities for children.

Photograph by Victoria Amato via Flickr.