Distracted Driver / Pedestrian Project

Safe Kids Worldwide is undertaking a national project to determine the prevalence of distracted walking and driver behavior in school zones across the county.

Did you know that every year nearly 500 pedestrians ages 19 and under are killed and more than 16,000 a visit hospital emergency rooms with injures? This is due in part to the increased use of cell phones and other mobile devices available to teen pedestrians, distracted walking is becoming an increasing concern in regard to safety. 

In a attempt to address this important issue, Safe Kids Worldwide is undertaking a national project to determine the prevalence of distracted walking and driver behavior in school zones across the county. 

As part of the initiative we will evaluate the effectiveness of a public health message informing pedestrians crossing the street and drivers in drop –off and pick –up locations in school zones on the dangers of distracted walking and driving. 

Mountain Lakes High School and Briarcliff Middle School have agreed to participate in this study. 

Sgt. Gil Benitez from the Mt. Lakes Police Department has been the liaison between the school and Northern NJ Safe Kids /Safe Communities. High School Students have been participating in observation stage of the project by collecting data. 

As of April 18, 2016 both schools have signs and street stencils that say “Heads Up, Phones Down”. We will share the results later this summer.