New York City transportation officials are hoping that students can help influence drivers to slow down and improve street safety. The Department of Transportation has launched the annual “We’re Walking Here” contest, calling on students to create public service announcements about street safety. Students are asked to track their walking patterns, observe dangerous aspects of city streets, and offer tips for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Winners of the contest will receive a cash prize.
Last year’s winning video was created by seventh graders from the Jamaica YMCA Intermediate School and featured a powerful message about the dangers of texting and driving. The video depicted the ghost of a student killed in traffic and urged motorists to pay attention while driving. This year, the deadline to register for the contest is October 15.
Street safety advocates at Transportation Alternatives highlight the data that shows a young person in New York City is seriously injured near a school every other day. To address these issues, the transportation department has announced a new initiative focusing on street safety in areas with high concentrations of youth injuries. This includes street redesigns, open streets near schools, and reduced speed limits.
Some roads are already seeing reduced speed limits this week due to Sammy’s Law, which allows the city to reduce speed limits to 20 mph on individual streets. The Department of Transportation plans to reduce speed limits at roughly 250 other locations by the end of next year. Parents and officials are hopeful that these efforts will help improve safety for students and all pedestrians in the city.
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Photo credit gothamist.com