In November, three children in the Putnam City area were struck by cars in after-school hours. Risks to children from such accidents go far beyond Putnam City boundaries, of course. According to Safekids USA, pedestrian injuries are the nation’s number two cause of accidental death among children ages 14 and under. On average, each year in the United States, 650 children are killed and 43,000 treated in emergency rooms as a result of pedestrian injuries.

Children are at risk because they do not yet have the ability to make good decisions about traffic. They cannot judge how fast a car is going and how far away it is, and therefore cannot estimate how much time they have to cross they street. In addition, children may believe that if they can see a car, the driver can see them, and that cars can stop instantly.

Here are basic facts about child pedestrian safety:

Who are injuries most likely to happen to?

• Injuries can happen to anyone.
• Children under 10 years old are at greatest risk.

When are injuries most likely to happen?

• Injuries can happen at any time.
• Injuries are most likely to happen on weekdays between 3 and 7 p.m., when children are either walking home from school or outside playing.

Where are injuries most likely to happen?

• Injuries can happen anywhere, even on streets with good pavement, good visibility and little traffic.
• Driveways are common sites for auto-pedestrian accidents involving children.
• Injuries are more likely where there are many cars parked on the street.
• Injuries are more likely in areas with a great deal of traffic.
• Injuries are more likely in areas where there are no crosswalks.

Teach children to …

• Cross at street corners.
• If there is a light, cross only when the sign says to walk, then quickly walk to the other side.
• Use crosswalks when they are available.
• At crosswalks, make eye contact with the driver before you cross.
• Follow traffic signals and read signs.
• Stop at the curb. Before crossing the street, look left, then right, then left again. If there are no cars, cross. If there is a car, wait.
• Watch for cars turning from another street on to the street they will be crossing.
• Do not cross the street from behind parked cars or bushes.
• Walk, don’t run, when crossing streets.
• Be especially careful in bad weather. It's more difficult for drivers to see and more difficult for them to slow down or stop.

Teach children not to …

• Cross the street alone if they are under 10 years old. They should always cross with an older child or an adult.
• Play behind parked cars in driveways.
• Play in the street or in parking lots.
• Run into the street to chase a ball or a pet.

For more information, visit the Safekids USA website.