CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
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Environmental Task Forces
Russell Smith
Program Advisor,
FedEx Global Citizenship
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Overview
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About the Program
Background
Process
Memphis Project
Outcomes
Next Steps
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Walk This Way Program
• Since 2000, FedEx has sponsored the Walk
This Way program.
• Goal: Teach drivers and child pedestrians
about safe behaviors and to create safer,
more walkable communities.
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Background – Task Forces
• Since 2005, Safe Kids and FedEx have been
making safer roads and communities for
kids through long-term infrastructure
improvements.
• Partners include engineers, pedestrian
safety advocates, community leaders and
parents.
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About the Task Force Program
• 2005 – 2010: $10,000
grants
• Since 2010 Safe Kids has
partnered with UNC HSRC
• 18 month grant
• Ten grantees each receive
$25,000
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The Process
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Data Review
Coalition provides instructor with relevant
data and other information to help
prepare for workshops, such as:
Crash Reports
Hospital Data
School Data
Demographic Info
Pedestrian Plans
Crash Maps
Information is used to identify high
priority locations in advance of
workshop and better understand local
safety issues
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Data Review
Purpose of data review is to answer the
following questions:
Where are child ped crashes occurring?
Which schools have the highest number of
children walking to school?
Where is the greatest need?
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Workshop
Instructor, Coalition, engineers and
stakeholders gather for two day workshop
Instructor provides overview of pedestrian
safety issues and countermeasures, and
group discusses problem areas
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Workshop
Once sites are identified, instructor leads a
field audit of target sites to observe issues
Missing Sidewalks
Speeding and Unsafe Motorist Behavior
Wide Corridors with Long Crossing Distance
Lack of Signals or Markings
Maintenance Needs
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Plan Development
At the end of the workshop, coalition
discusses sites and observations and
finalizes location
for intervention
and selected
countermeasure
Draft plan is
completed
during workshop
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Implementation
Coalition works with engineers to install
selected treatment
Education/enforcement activities are
coordinated around the installation
Ribbon cutting ceremony held to draw
media attention and build community
awareness of pedestrian safety issues
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Process – Evaluation
Data collected before and after installation
to measure effectiveness in:
Reducing Speeds
Increasing Activity
Increasing Yielding
Improving Behavior
Reducing Conflicts
Local coalitions also measure effectiveness
of educational programs delivered to
schools by pre/post tests.
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION CONFERENCE 2013
Memphis, TN
• Memphis historically has challenges with
pedestrian safety.
• Several “most dangerous cities” list for pedestrians,
including one report from Safe Kids.
• Between 2003 and 2011 more than 3,400
pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes occurred.
• Of those, nearly a quarter involved pedestrians ages 14
years old or younger.
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Memphis, TN
• FedEx cares about its hometown and invests
heavily in the community.
• Collaboration between Safe Kids Mid-South, the
City of Memphis and FedEx to complete the
infrastructure improvements.
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Memphis: Treadwell Elementary
• Selection process:
• From 2003 – 2011:
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Number of Crashes: 23
Number of Crashes under Age 15: 16
Number of Fatal/Incapacitating Injuries under 15: 5
Clustering of serious injury/fatal crashes near school
property
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The Problem
• Speeding
• Wide roads
• Confusing one-way
street
• Low visibility crosswalks
• Shrubs and other sight
distance issues
• Poor signage
(placement)
• Multiple crossings with
only parallel lines
• School bus parking on
busy street
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The Solution: Planned Treatments
• FedEx completed a
Route Optimization
Study to assess the
traffic patterns in the
school zone as well
as examined the oneway street.
• Installed appropriate
signage and a curb
extension.
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The Solution: Planned Treatments
• School buses and child
care vans now dropoff/pick-up where no
personal vehicles are
allowed.
• All bused students are
now dismissed through
doors closest to the bus
loading zone.
• The project is expected
to be completed July
2013.
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Evaluation
• Post observational data and speed data will be
collected after environmental changes are
complete.
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Outcomes
• The first-ever Safe Kids task force documentary.
• The first phase: footage of identified areas
around Treadwell Elementary School preintervention.
• Interviewed Matthew Thornton, DOT
representatives, bike & pedestrian
professionals and key school officials.
• Based on the Safe Kids task force model, the City
of Memphis is hiring a position to assess all
schools for pedestrian safety
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Next Steps
• Going global!
• In 2013, grants in the amount of $25,000 $50,000 will be awarded to five coalitions in
U.S. target cities and one grant to Safe Kids
Canada to facilitate a task force in Vancouver,
BC.
• Phase II Memphis project
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