GHSA and the National Road Safety Foundation awarded $25,000 to help the Texas Department of Transportation host youth transportation safety events across the state where students learned about road patterns and best practices for riding safely.
In 2024, GHSA, in partnership with the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), awarded a $25,000 grant to The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), to partner with community-based organizations to develop and implement youth active transportation safety (YATS) initiatives focusing on safe walking, biking and/or scooting.
TxDOT used grant funding to equip its Traffic Safety Specialists (TSS) with an active transportation educational resources toolkit. They used this resource to host youth transportation safety events across the state, during which students learned about road patterns and best practices for riding safely. Students participated in interactive activities that simulated road scenarios in a safe environment separated from motor vehicle traffic.
All 25 TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialists (TSS) were provided the Pedestrian/Bike Safety Education Toolkits. The TSS used the toolkits to set up simulated road scenarios that enabled them to safely engage with and educate children about safe walking and bicycling practices in their respective communities. Students participated in a 10-minute safety lesson presented by the TSS. They then took part in a walking pop-up event (a mini city) that was set up in their school gym or auditorium, as well as at fairgrounds, parks or school/church parking lots. Children moved through four stations, participating as pedestrians, bicyclists and crossing guards, and then participated in a pedestrian safety obstacle course. With support from 32 volunteers and 558 caregivers, 1,645 kids participated in one of 10 events conducted by the TSS.
Each TSS has local connections with schools, law enforcement, government, community organizations and community leaders. The TSS partnered with elementary schools, law enforcement agencies, churches, Boys and Girls Club, city parks and other community groups to host these pedestrian and bicycle safety events.
TxDOT and the TSS are committed to continuing to use the Ped/Bike Safety Education Toolkits to educate youth across the state about active transportation safety. Each TSS tracks the number of presentations and outreach events they complete annually, and these metrics will be reviewed to ensure that participation goals are being met and that more students are being reached each year. The TSS in urban and rural areas will have a higher metric to reach, but they will collaborate with their teammates from other districts to ensure program impact.
This project is replicable by other State Highway Safety Offices. TxDOT recommends starting the toolkit procurement process and school outreach as soon as possible. The latter is crucial for obtaining approval for the TSS to visit schools and work directly with students.
