FORT KNOX, Ky. — As the days get shorter, officials at Fort Knox Safety worry runners and school children are at greater risk of being hit by motorists during low-light conditions in the mornings.
In particular, school children who ride bicycles or walk to and from school pose a big concern, said Safety specialist Wendy Steinhoff. Crosswalks can be particularly dangerous.
“So many adults think that they are in a crosswalk, they have the right of way,” said Steinhoff. “If we have parents telling their kids they have the right of way in the walkway, that could be a problem too, because you don’t.
“Just because there’s a walkway there doesn’t automatically give you the right of way.”
According to a March 15, 2011 article by the Association for Psychological Science, the third leading cause of death for children ages 5-9 is being hit by an automobile.
“It’s not hard to think of reasons for this scary statistic: Children are easily distracted and don’t always pay attention, and they are also smaller, so they’re more likely to sustain fatal injuries when they are hit,” said the article. “But there may be another, even more basic, reason for this childhood peril: Kids simply don’t’ see the cars coming.”
Steinhoff said that’s because of cognitive development.
“Their thought process is so different than ours,” said Steinhoff.
Fort Knox has rules in place that govern children traveling around the installation. Fort Knox Policy 09, dated July 25, states in Paragraph 4, Subparagraph D “Bus Stops,” that children in 1st and 2nd Grade are allowed to walk or ride bicycle to and from school only under adult observation.
However, for children in 3rd Grade and above parents are no longer required to observe their children. Steinhoff recommends that parents still follow their children for a few additional years as a precaution if they feel their child isn’t ready for the responsibility.
“Parents have an obligation to watch for their kids and make sure they’re not in danger,” said Steinhoff. “Some children are not mature enough to even walk to school and observe the rules of the road, regardless of age.”
Steinhoff said a motorist recently experienced a near-miss of a child trying to cross a crosswalk while the motorist was driving on the installation. The scare has caused leaders to promote greater awareness of the dangers of children out and about during low-light conditions.
The concern is not limited to just watching out for children. Steinhoff said motorists should also be on the lookout for walkers and joggers.
“They’re supposed to have reflective gear, and there are trails on post that are better suited to jogging and running,” said Steinhoff. “Sometimes people get distracted when they’re driving, too.”
Steinhoff said one spot where pedestrians and motorists alike get confused is at the intersection of Fire Station #1. By around 8 a.m. each morning, firefighters test their trucks.
“People don’t know if they’re coming out for an emergency, or just testing. That distraction can cause motorists to forget to watch for little kids crossing there,” said Steinhoff. “Between being late for work, or trying to eat breakfast on the way, there are plenty of distractions out there.”
Steinhoff said some simple changes for motorists can alleviate any future safety concerns.
For one, follow all speed limit signs, including 15 mph in housing areas and school zones. Other suggestions include slowing down and leaving early enough to not feel the need to rush and put down any distractions while driving.
Steinhoff added one more.
“Keep an eye out for kids,” said Steinhoff. “A lot of times they won’t keep an eye out for you.”
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