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Deanie Wimmer ReportingWe've seen an unfortunate coincidence in Utah: The same week that schools have focused on safe walking, we've seen a series of tragic pedestrian accidents. Now some neighborhoods around the state are making efforts to keep kids safe.
Parents walked their kids to school en masse this week, to put special emphasis on pedestrian safety.
Mother Amy Beckstrand says, "Especially with all the accidents with the sun being in people's eyes, they need to be aware there are a lot of kids walking to school every day."
Auto-pedestrian crashes are the second leading cause of death among young children. In Layton, 40 percent of auto-pedestrian accidents involved kids under 14. So now they're spotlighting the basics: using crosswalks and staying on the sidewalk.
Jeri Boren, with Davis County Safe Kids, says, "It's important to get these kids to realize the dangers out there, teach them appropriate ways."
In Taylorsville the statistics are more serious. Nearly two dozen kids were hit by cars just last year. Surprisingly, the Salt Lake Metro Region has the 25th worst pedestrian accident rate in the country.
A new radar sign in front of Arcadia Elementary and a redesigned bus zone are improvements aimed at drivers.
Taylorsville mayor Russ Wall says, "It's so the parents can be reminded of the speed they're going as they drive down the road."
At schools in Draper and in Park City, safe bicycling was the pedestrian message, teaching kids safe practices and hoping drivers become more aware.
