WalkSafe. DriveSafe.

Pedestrian safety campaign delivers message to help reduce injuries, fatalities

Every year, an average of 250 pedestrians are injured in crashes on our streets. Out of the 250 people injured, about 20 never see their families again, according to crash analysis data prepared by Pima Association of Governments.
PAG is launching a new Walk Safe. Drive Safe. Pedestrian safety campaign, including a 30-second video, to help tell a story that encourages people to watch out for each other, and everyone to take care of yourself.
“The number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities is an issue locally as well as nationally and we developed this campaign to bring it to the attention of everyone in our region,” said PAG Executive Director Farhad Moghimi. “We are asking that pedestrians take care to look both ways when they cross the street as well as asking drivers to look out for pedestrians.”
While pedestrians represent up to 10 percent of the trips in the region, they account for 23 percent of all fatal crashes, according to a recent PAG crash data analysis. Nationally, over 4,000 pedestrians are killed annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Contributing factors to pedestrian crashes include low lighting, alcohol use and the lack of following good safety practices.
Pedestrians are encouraged to cross at marked intersections, wear bright clothing at night and make sure drivers see them before they step into the street.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down, avoid distractions while driving and look out for pedestrians, especially when approaching any intersection.
In 2011, Tucson was named a Pedestrian Safety Focus City by the Federal Highway Administration. Phoenix also is on the list and Arizona is a Pedestrian Safety Focus State. Pedestrian focus cities were named if they had more than 20 average annual pedestrian fatalities or a pedestrian fatality rate greater than 2.33 per 100,000 population, the national average.
“After my first several weeks at PAG, it became evident to me that the Regional Council had a strong desire to enhance pedestrian safety awareness due to the number of local fatalities and injuries,” Moghimi said.
Local media outlets are supporting the campaign through public service announcements.
“We appreciate the media’s support of this important message to the community,” Moghimi said. “We ask everyone to use their social media resources to help share this message with family and friends to extend this campaign across our region.” .
PAG’s pedestrian safety website, WalkSafeDriveSafe.com, provides safety tips for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, and asks people to join the pedestrian safety movement by taking the online Pedestrian Safety pledge.

Website: www.WalkSafeDriveSafe.com
Twitter: #WalkSafeDriveSafe
Video:www.YouTube.com/PAGregion

Pima Association of Governments is an association of local, state and tribal governments with a mission to build consensus among its members and the public on regional planning for transportation, energy, watershed and air quality. Please visit www.PAGregion.com orwww.facebook.com/PAGregion for more information.