Keeping children safe is always a priority for preschool and childcare programs. While steps are typically taken to maximize safety within the early childhood setting, many forget to consider one of the most dangerous times in a child’s day--when he or she is out and around moving traffic.

Whether they are riding their bicycles or tricycles near your childcare program, playing outside, or on a neighborhood field trip, children must be kept safe. When groups of children are outdoors, protection from nearby traffic is a concern.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more children under age 15 die of pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents than any other cause. Knowing how to reduce safety problems in your neighborhood can help reduce the incidence of injury or death to the children in your care.

One important factor in reducing pedestrian injuries is to find ways to slow traffic through neighborhoods and in school zones. Speeding vehicles pose a dangerous safety risk to children. Recent studies show that a reduction in driving speed can make the difference between a near miss, a minor injury, or a fatal accident.

If you have heavy traffic near your childcare program, reducing speed of traffic can help keep the children safer. Asking your city to take action and install a speed bump, erect a radar speed sign, or provide police patrols to monitor trouble spots are possible solutions to the speeding problem. By working together with neighbors and the parents of children in your early childcare and education program, you can bring safety concerns to the attention of local officials.

A growing number of preschool groups, childcare facilitators, and school administrators are working with neighborhood groups across the country to implement successful traffic safety projects so that there is more than one person asking for help with neighborhood safety.

Organized groups are likely to have a higher success rate than individuals at gaining approval for traffic-calming projects. In fact, many federally-funded traffic improvement grants are open only to established groups.

With this in mind, consider joining forces with other preschool or childcare groups. Also, consider combining your efforts with other existing groups that have similar goals such as a local bicycle club or school safety board.

Most cities have comprehensive programs in place to evaluate requests for traffic-calming measures. In many cases, school zones are given the highest priority and a streamlined project approval process.

There are a number of traditional methods used for slowing vehicles near schoolyards, childcare facilities, and preschools. Surprisingly however, research has shown that some of these “tried and true” methods may be ineffectual or even dangerous.

For instance, a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that in many cases, marked crosswalks had little or no effect in reducing pedestrian accidents. On some multi-lane streets, marked crosswalks were actually associated with a higher incident of pedestrian accidents than unmarked intersections.

In another study, speed bumps were shown to be effective in slowing traffic but they also tended to increase the noise level of passing vehicles. This may cause difficulty for preschools or childcare facilities where distractions should be kept to a minimum.

At the same time, new traffic-calming solutions have emerged. Photo-speed cameras for instance, now provide around the clock monitoring. Radar speed signs can be programmed to change speed limits during various times of the day such as just before and after school hours when children are most at risk.

The bottom line is that it is important to investigate all options and determine the right solution for your program’s specific requirements. Conducting preliminary research and evaluation can help you with solutions.

One way to address safety concerns in your neighborhood is to apply for a grant that can supply funds to make changes in the traffic situation such as to add a traffic light, speed bump or make terrain changes.

There are three types of grants generally available for traffic safety programs: federal grants, state grants, and private grants. Locating and applying for one of these grants may seem daunting, but can be accomplished with a bit of determination and persistence.

Your local childcare resource and referral agency might have information on where to contact for local grant information. Also, city managers and city or county officials often know of grant opportunities, so you may begin your research with a call to these sources.

Once you locate a potential funding source, you can find several tutorials on grant writing available on the Internet. Also, grant-writing workshops and often are available at no charge through local nonprofit organizations and community foundations.

When evaluating potential grants, be sure to check eligibility requirements and other caveats. It may be necessary to partner with a local nonprofit group in order to apply. A thorough review of the conditions and requirements for each grant will go a long way in ensuring your grant application is a success.

Service organizations such as Rotary or Kiwanis also may be of help in preparing a grant request or providing project assistance. If your project includes heavy work such as cutting back weeds or shrubbery that are impairing drivers’ vision, consider calling a local organization to help with the work.

In many states, it is possible to adopt a small stretch of highway, usually a distance of about two miles. With this adoption, you may involve the help of parents in walking the stretch twice a year to pick up trash. This activity can provide you an opportunity to identify traffic safety changes that could be made.

Pedestrian safety should also include education with the young children about traffic “rule.” A local police or safety officer may be available to come into your childcare program to talk with children about pedestrian safety.

Clearly, a top priority for education and childcare professionals is keeping children safe. While budget cuts have reduced or completely eliminated many government-sponsored traffic safety programs, there are steps that can be taken to reduce child-related pedestrian accidents. With a little research and organization it is possible to find the right solution and the necessary funding to implement an effective program that will reduce this most serious safety issue.

John Dixon, technical writer, Portland, Oregon

SafeKids, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Ste. 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1707; 202-662-0600; www.usa.safekids.org

American Automobile Association Foundation, www.aaafoundation.org

Foundation Center, www.foundationcenter.org

National Center for Injury Prevention & Control, www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pedestrian/default.htm

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, www.nhtsa.dot.gov and www.nhtsa.dot.gov/kids/biketour/pedsafety

Stop Speeders, www.stopspeeders.org

Traffic Safety Kids Page, www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/kids.htm

U.S. Federal Highway Administration, safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped/index.htm