Slow Down Campaign

April 08, 2008
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142 Email: schaffer@co.dane.wi.us
Sheriff's Office

School is out soon! Safe Communities in partnership with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, is conducting its annual Slow Down Campaign. As part of this campaign, over 2,500 yard signs will pop up in yards across Dane County reminding motorists to “Slow Down, Watch for Kids.” We all need to slow down when children are present, because the faster vehicles travel, the more likely crashes are to occur and the more severe injuries will be. Children are especially vulnerable due to their smaller stature. If a child pedestrian is hit by a car traveling at 20 mph, 5 percent are killed, most injuries are slight, and 30 percent suffer no injuries at all. At 30 mph, 45% are KILLED and many are injured. At 40 mph, 85% ARE KILLED. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5 to 14. Each year in the United States, nearly 900 children ages 14 and under die from pedestrian injuries and another 24,000 are injured in traffic-related crashes. When child pedestrians are hit by cars, it's usually as they dart out between cars mid-block. Please drive slowly and be on the lookout for kids! The Slow Down campaign will kick off Wednesday, April 16th and run through April 25th. Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association in Madison will host this year’s campaign launch at noon at the Tenney Park Beach with local residents and elementary school children in attendance. Join us if you can – all are welcome! If you’re interested in posting signs in your yard or neighborhood, they will be available for pick up while supplies last at all three Sheriff’s Office precincts, beginning April 10th and throughout the campaign. You can also pick up a sign at your local American Family Insurance agency – thanks to American Family for its financial support of this year’s campaign! Sheriff’s Office precinct locations are: · Northeast – 4084 Mueller Road, Deforest · Southeast – 2354 CTH N, Stoughton · West – 7555 W. Old Sauk Road, Verona