Pedestrian safety is on everyone’s minds after an accident where a ten year-old girl walking was struck by a vehicle on Poppy Ridge this morning.
Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator Jane Fellman detailed how parents can make their children more visible for drivers when walking.
Fellman: “But the reality is that it’s on all four sides is what we say, the front, the back, the sides. If you put it on their pant legs so that you could even do a circle, you could see the movement of somebody walking, the same thing with their back and their arms. Key pulls are okay and I give those out but really you can only see those from the fronts and there is so much more danger out there not being able to see people from behind. A lot of the backpacks you buy today have reflective tape on them or a material that shines. I really encourage kids to get head lanterns.”
She also said that although drivers must always be aware, it is important for both youth and adult pedestrians to remain vigilant as well.
Fellman: “Teaching children that that even though you have reflective gear on and you think people can see you, it’s still their responsibility to be watching and looking and paying attention, if they can see headlights or if they hear a car coming to use their ears as well and to be able to be able to get themselves into a safe area.”
Fellman said anyone interested in getting more information on how to keep children walking to school or bus stops safe to contact her at the Central Peninsula Hospital at 714-4539 or jfellman@cpgh.org.