FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PENNDOT REMINDS MOTORISTS OF SUMMERTIME PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC

ALLENTOWN (June 24) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today reminded motorists to be extra cautious of pedestrian travelers over the summer months.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, in 2001, 669 children ages 14 and under died from pedestrian injuries. Of these, 521 died in motor vehicle-related traffic crashes. Worse, child pedestrian injuries are frequently serious or deadly. In 2002, more than 43,300 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries. Despite recent declines, pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5 to 14.

Every year, approximately 180 pedestrians die on Pennsylvania’s roadways. This represents about 11% of all highway deaths.

In recent months, PennDOT District 5-0 has re-launched the Yield to Pedestrian Channelization Device program. Schools, senior living centers, hospitals, local businesses, and neighborhood festivals have acquired these devices. It is estimated that PennDOT has distributed nearly 200 of these devices throughout the East Central Pennsylvania. Requests continue to come in for the traffic calming and safety devices. To order a pedestrian device, please call 610-798-4121. PennDOT once again warns motorists and pedestrians to be extra cautious of each other over the summer months.

PennDOT would like to offer the following tips to pedestrians:

1. Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the road, always walk FACING traffic, so you can see any car that might go out of control.

2. Dress to be seen. Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see you during the daytime. At night, you need to wear special retro-reflective material on your shoes, cap or jacket to reflect the headlights of cars coming towards you.

Tips for crossing the street:

· Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks;

	Stop at the curb, or the edge of the road;
	Stop and look left, then right, then left again, before you step into the street;
	If you see a car, wait until it goes by. Then look left, right and left again until no cars are coming;
	If a car is parked where you are crossing, make sure there is no driver in the car. Then go to the edge of the car and look left-right-left until no cars are coming. Keep looking for cars while you are crossing, and remember, walk -don’t run.

PennDOT offers the following safety tips for motorists:

SLOW DOWN. When approaching a crosswalk, slow down. There may be pedestrians entering the roadway.
Scan back and forth. While driving, it is a good idea to look left and right, but you should also scan everything in between.
Yield to pedestrians. The law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians in designated crosswalks.

By following these tips, we can all have a safe and enjoyable summer.

Get PennDOT's local news releases, traffic bulletins and other information anytime at http://www.dot.state.pa.us/penndot/districts/district5.nsf/5-0%20Main%20News?OpenFrameSet