One particularly concerning area is school zones and the walk to school. Many children walk or bike to school — nationally, about 10% to 14% of morning rush-hour car trips are for school travel. These routes, however, often expose children to busy traffic, missing sidewalks, or crosswalks that drivers ignore.
Poor infrastructure and weak enforcement amplify the risk. For example, a safety evaluation of speed-reduction interventions found that for each .6 mph reduction in average vehicular speed, fatal and injury crashes decline by 4%. Further, in one case, fatal and injury collisions for vulnerable road users dropped by 45% when speed was reduced by about 7.5 mph.
For children walking to school, the margin for error is slim. The risk isn’t just physical injury. The fear of navigating hazardous routes also discourages walking or biking, contributing to more children being driven to school and fewer benefiting from physical exercise. That in turn affects health outcomes.
Physical inactivity among youth is increasingly a problem. In the absence of safe walking/biking options, children lose an important mode of daily exercise. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) approach is therefore not only about crash prevention — it’s about enabling active travel, improving health, and building safe, connected communities.
We must recognize that the route from home to school is not just a transit path. It’s part of a child’s educational experience, daily routine, and broader health ecosystem.
As communities, schools, local governments, and transportation agencies look ahead, developing and implementing safe routes must become a priority. That means dedicating resources to infrastructure improvements, enforcement, education, and community engagement. Because when a child is struck while walking to school, the entire community feels the loss.
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) approach is not only about crash prevention — it’s about enabling active travel, improving health, and building safe, connected communities.
In recognition of the hazards children face on their way to school — and in an effort to increase safety for students walking and biking — the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program has emerged.
SRTS refers to an approach that promotes and encourages walking and bicycling to school through a combination of infrastructure improvements, enforcement strategies, educational initiatives, and community engagement. The program can be implemented by state or local departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, school districts, or individual schools.
The rationale is straightforward: by enhancing sidewalks, installing crosswalks, implementing traffic calming measures, educating children and drivers, and engaging the community, we mitigate risk and foster a culture of active transportation and safety.
Beyond the physical safety benefits, SRTS holds additional advantages. Walking or biking to school reduces traffic congestion around schools, lowers emissions and air pollution, supports physical activity and healthier kids, and strengthens community cohesion.
For school districts or community leaders looking to implement or strengthen an SRTS-style program, the following elements serve as a foundation:
Sidewalks and Crosswalks. First, ensure that sidewalks run along major roads leading to the school. They should be wide enough for groups of children, ideally separated from traffic by a buffer. Install clearly marked crosswalks at intersections or mid-block where foot traffic is highest, so that drivers know where to expect pedestrians.
Speed Bumps, Humps, and Signs. On roads near the school, introduce speed-reducing features: speed bumps or humps, signage reminding drivers to watch for students, flashing lights at crosswalks, senior-design visuals like “School Zone: Slow Down.” As the safety evaluation showed, modest reductions in speed yield large reductions in crash risk.
Safe Intersections. At intersections near the school, consider adding stop signs or traffic signals, curb extensions, pedestrian refuge islands, and traffic-calming geometry changes to shorten crossing distances and improve visibility.
Bike Lanes. For children who ride bikes, designate bike lanes that are physically or visually separated from car traffic.
Adult Supervision and Crossing Guards. Station adults or crossing guards at the busiest crossings during arrival and dismissal times. These adult-supervised crossings enhance safety, reinforce route discipline, and act as visible deterrents to speeding drivers.
Education Programs. Teach students about pedestrian safety, how to navigate intersections, how to ride bikes safely, helmet use, and how to be visible and predictable. Schools can hold assemblies, workshops, or incorporate safety training into PE or classroom time.
Community Involvement. Engage parents, teachers, local law enforcement, and transportation authorities in planning and monitoring safe routes. Community members should be encouraged to report hazards (e.g., broken sidewalk, missing sign, sight-line obstruction) and participate in route mapping or walking audits.
Speed-Feedback and Dynamic Signage. Deploy speed-feedback signs (also known as radar speed displays) near school zones to show drivers their current speed and remind them to slow down (“Your Speed XX — Slow Down”). These have been shown to help reduce vehicle speeds and crash risk.
Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons. These are pedestrian-activated beacons at mid-block or intersection crossings. When pressed, they flash rapidly to alert drivers to the presence of crossing pedestrians or cyclists, adding a layer of protection with less disruption to vehicle traffic flow.
If a school community wants to launch a Safe Routes to School initiative, here are some tips to get started:
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Conduct a walking audit. Have students, parents, and staff walk the routes to/from school, note hazards (missing sidewalks, heavy traffic, poor lighting), and identify “hot spots” requiring intervention.
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Monitor and evaluate. Track metrics such as the number of students walking/biking, number of driver violations, speed reductions, and crashes or near-misses. Successes can fuel momentum for further investment.
By embracing SRTS interventions — infrastructure, education, enforcement, community engagement — we can give children the gift of a safe commute to school. Every child deserves to step out the door and arrive at class ready to learn, without having to worry about traffic. After all, if we won’t protect our children, who will? The time to act is now.