St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

There are many reasons to go out for a walk or hop on a bicycle for a leisurely ride around the neighborhood. But for some Missouri students, these two forms of transportation may be the only way to get to and from school. With that comes the real risk of potentially being involved in a traffic-related pedestrian accident in St. Louis.

Today, Oct. 5th, the International Walk to School Day campaign is back to help raise awareness about the risks these young pedestrians face. The annual event is also a good time to discuss ways to help reduce traffic accidents and to campaign for safer roadways for walkers. Our Missouri pedestrian accident attorneys understand the benefits and possible rewards of this campaign.

The first Walk to School Day started in 1997 in Chicago when it was used as a day for children and community leaders to get together to raise awareness about the need for more walkable communities. Later in 2002, the event recorded its largest number of participants -- 3 million people worldwide. In 2005, the event helped to rally for new legislation that now provides federal funding to states to help construct more walkable roadways. Now there are more than 11,000 schools in every state that have been awarded some of this federal funding -- more than $600 million -- to help communities improve conditions for pedestrians.

The campaign not only reinforces the call for safer roadways, but also reminds us that walking is a great way to help keep our young ones in shape. It can also lead to other healthy habits and helps reduce air pollution.

Schools in Columbia participating in the 2011 International Walk to School Day:

-Benton Elementary School

-Blue Ridge Elementary School

-Cedar Ridge Elementary School

-Derby Ridge Elementary School

-Fairview Elementary School

-Grant Elementary School

-Lee Elementary School

-Millcreek Elementary School

-Parkade Elementary School

-Paxton Keeley Elementary School

-Ridgeway Elementary School

-Rockbridge Elementary School

-Russell Elementary School

-Shepard Elementary School

-West Boulevard Elementary School

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were approximately 34,000 pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2009. Five percent of these accidents involved people younger than 15 years old. More than 1,300 pedestrians in this young age group were killed in traffic-related accidents during 2009. Approximately 180,000 were injured in these same incidents. This means that every day there were approximately 4 deaths and 490 injuries experienced by children under 15 in pedestrian accidents.

We would like to encourage you and your child to get involved in this year's events. You can visit the campaign's website to find out exactly Who's Walking in Missouri. Remember to talk with your child about how to be a safe pedestrian. Keep the dangers, risks and importance of safe habits as a frequent topic of conversation in your household.

Reasons to walk, according to the campaign:

.-An excellent source of physical activity.

-To reduce risks of fatal car accidents.

-To raise community awareness about pedestrian safety.

-To raise awareness about environmental issues.

-To help reduce vehicular traffic.

-To reclaim neighborhoods.

-To share time with family members, friends and community leaders.