Maryland Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Program

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Maryland Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education
Program
Rockville, MDApril 11, 2003
Maryland Highway Safety OfficeCity of
RockvilleToole Design Group, LLC
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Why does Maryland need a Safety Education Program?
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Why does Maryland need a Safety Education Program?

• MD experienced 3110 pedestrian and 1067 bicycle
  crashes in 2000.
• MD averages 110 pedestrian fatalities per
  yearPedestrians make up 16 of all traffic
  fatalities
• Over 25 of pedestrian crashes in MD involve
  children aged 5-15 (this group makes up 15 of
  the population)
• Over 45 of bicycle crashes in the US involve
  children under 15 (this group makes up 22 of the
  population)
• Children are judged responsible for more than
  half of these crashes
• Universal bike helmet use by ages 4-15 would
  prevent 57,000 to 100,000 head and face injuries
  each year

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Safety Education Program Overview

• Pedestrian Lessons (Kindergarten-2nd Grade)
• Bicycle Lessons (3rd Grade-5th Grade)
• 4 Core Lessons for Pedestrian and Bicycle
• Enrichment Lessons
• Hands-On Approach
• Learn skills and behaviors, but kids still have
  fun
• Flexible for teachers
• Sounds simple

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How was the Program Developed?
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How was the Program Developed?

• Review of the best ped and bike safety curricula
  from North America
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Committee
• Program Coordinator
• Administrator
• Teacher
• Lesson writers
• Outreach to Rockville community, teachers, and
  administratorsBuilt support
• Pilot Testing

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Program Materials

• Administrators Guide
• Teachers Guide
• Lesson Handbook

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Administrators Guide

• Benefits of ped and bike safety education
  (overheads for presentations)
• Short summary of program
• Maryland Learner Outcomes
• Administrative issues
• Instructor training
• Equipment and materials
• Liability
• Community support

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Teachers Guide
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Teachers Guide

• Lesson Summary
• Time, objectives, and activities
• Background Information
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Concepts
• Materials
• Documenting Effectiveness
• Letters to Parents, Program Flier, Certificate of
  Achievement

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What are the Lessons All About?

• Pedestrian Lesson Contents
• Stopping at the edge before crossing the street
• Looking left-right-left before crossing the
  street
• Scanning left and right to look for traffic while
  crossing the street
• Walking safely near the school bus
• Choosing safe crossing locations visual barriers
• Looking left-right-left and behind when crossing
  intersections
• Bicycle Lesson Contents
• Wearing a bicycle helmet
• Checking to make sure that
• the equipment is safe for riding
• Rules of the road
• Skills balance, stopping, turning,
• and signaling

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Lesson Layout

• Lesson Outline
• Time, Objectives, MLOs, Materials, Teaching
  Venue, Vocabulary, Statistics
• Lesson Walk-Through
• Introduction
• Instruction
• Activities
• Handouts and Materials

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Role of the Program Coordinator
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Role of the Program Coordinator

• Coordinate the program in a city or county area
• Train teachers and then play advisory role
• Find volunteers to assist
• Promote program in local community
• Manage equipment

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Pilot to Statewide

• Rockville Pilot
• Written Materials (Jan. 2002-Aug. 2003)
• 7 Rockville schools (Sep. 2002-Jun. 2003)
• All Rockville schools (Sep. 2003-Jun. 2004)
• Expand to two or three counties
• Montgomery, Prince Georges, Baltimore City,
  others (Sep. 2003-2005)
• Expand Statewide
• Share positive results from Rockville and
  Montgomery County
• Build support (Other communities Statewide)
• Expand to more interested jurisdictions (Sep.
  2004 and beyond)

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Questions?
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Lets see the lessons in action!