Ohio Safe Routes to School

Ohio Safe Routes to School

Radio Public Service Announcements

With Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich and Ohio Students

Program Outline

BACKGROUND

The Ohio Department of Transportation produced two, 30-second radio public service announcements reminding all travelers to watch for school children walking and bicycling to school during Walk and Bike to School month in October. The PSAs will air on radio stations statewide in October thanks to a partnership with the Ohio Association of Broadcasters. The PSAs offer tips to help people travel more safely around schools. Ohio Safe Routes to School Ambassador, Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich, and Ohio school children lend their voices to the PSAs.

GOAL

Remind everyone of the need for extra caution in school zones as Ohio children walk and bicycle to school. Between 2008-10, there were more than 11,000 crashes near Ohio K-8 schools resulting in 244 fatalities. Nearly 1 in 4 of these crashes involved school children ages 5-14.

HOW ODOT PIOS/SAFE ROUTES COORDINATORS CAN PROMOTE SAFE TRAVEL AROUND SCHOOLS

·  In early October, localize and distribute the news release about the PSAs to encourage safe travel around schools.

·  Offer to appear on radio and televisions talk/interview programs in your district to discuss the statistics and travel tips that ODOT has prepared. Use the email pitch letter to seek opportunities.

·  Post messages on your and or/ODOTS SRTS Facebook Page and send tweets about the PSAs and “Every Move” campaign.

·  Download and distribute copies of the Travel Tips Around Schools PDF at events to reinforce important campaign messages. Forward the Tips PDF to local law enforcement agencies, motor clubs like AAA, biking groups, and other related organizations, and ask them to write about the “Every Move” campaign and post the tips on their websites.

·  Complete the “MVP Reporting Form” and be sure to upload news clips/interview report.

·  Feel free to modify kit materials for use outside of October as the Travel Tips Around Schools are relevant all school-year long. There are also Generic PSAs that do not mention Walk and Bike to School Month that you can ask local radio stations to air year round.

MESSAGES

School Zone Travel Safety Tips

·  Slow down. Follow all traffic laws and speed limits

·  Watch for children walking and bicycling near schools and surrounding neighborhoods

·  Prepare to stop for children around school buses and bus stops

·  Check for other foot and vehicle traffic when backing out of the driveway or garage.

·  Be extra alert during school start and dismissal times

·  Avoid stopping in crosswalks

·  Remember that rain and fog lower visibility so be extra cautious in bad weather

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN GET INVOLVED

·  Visit www.EveryMove.ohio.gov and click on Walk/Bike to School Month to download the Travel Tips Around Schools PDF and listen to the Safe Routes to School PSAs.

·  Read, understand and follow traffic laws available at www.bmv.ohio.gov/.

TRAVEL TIPS AROUND SCHOOLS PDF

The Ohio Department of Transportation has created a Travel Tips Around Schools PDF filled with advice on how to avoid crashes near schools. Consider downloading and distributing copies of the Travel Tips Around Schools PDF at events to reinforce important “Every Move” campaign messages. You can also forward the Tips PDF to local law enforcement agencies, biking groups, motor clubs like AAA, and other related organizations, and ask them to write about the campaign and post the tips on their websites.