Having children that are able to walk to school without danger is the goal of some officials in the state of Florida. It is called the “Safe Route to School” or SRTS project. It promotes safety while at the same time allows for kids who want to walk to school to do so by changing the infrastructure and removing barriers that are in place that make it unsafe for your children to walk. They have a promotional website that is aimed at children, parents and the community as a whole.
The federal government is also involved in this push for walking. It was brought into being in August of 2005 and provides funding to Florida through the Florida Department of Transportation which administers this project.
Congress passed a new transportation bill in July of 2012 called the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21. In October of 2012, the SRTS program became able to compete for grants with many other programs and projects that include the Transportation Enhancements project and the Recreational Trails program. Together, the initiatives are called the “Transportation Alternatives” program.
Being able to walk safely to school gives kids a sense of freedom and allows them to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. They arrive at school more awake and ready to face the day. Sometimes, though, even with all the precautions and safety rules that are implemented, a child is hit and hurt while walking. This is so sad and can be devastating to the parents who have to face this.
Knowing that the authorities have taken pedestrian safety so seriously is a good thing. However, if you have suffered because you or a loved one was involved in a pedestrian/auto accident, getting a legal opinion may be an avenue worth checking out.
Source: Florida Department of Transportation, “Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS),” accessed Jan. 20, 2016
