UDOT safety experts shared data regarding student pedestrian risks and drop-off line safety during a recent district presentation. The information highlights risks for youth pedestrians and promotes the Safe Routes Utah Walk 'n' Roll Challenge.
Shauna Burbridge, the Statewide Behavior Safety Program Manager for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), presented data and advice on student safety during a recent district presentation. National traffic safety data indicates that teens aged 15 to 19 account for half of all youth pedestrian fatalities. According to UDOT, these older students often travel with more autonomy and less direct adult supervision, which increases risks from distracted walking and unexpected street crossings.
UDOT safety observers have noted various distractions near schools, including drivers attempting complex tasks such as eating meals or adjusting clothes. Additionally, over 80% of students engage in unsafe crossing behaviors, such as jaywalking 20 feet away from a marked crosswalk. To address these risks, officials urge parents to follow campus flow by avoiding unauthorized parking or stopping in active travel lanes. Officials also advise against dropping children off across the street to avoid forcing them to cross traffic outside of designated crossing guard locations.
To encourage active travel, Safe Routes Utah hosts the monthly Walk 'n' Roll Challenge for students in grades K–8. Participants can track how often a student walks or bikes to school each month to enter monthly drawings for prizes, including scooters and helmets for students and Amazon gift cards for parents. Families can visit saferoutes to log walks and access safe route maps for specific Murray school campuses.
UDOT Safe Routes Utah noted that school zones handle hundreds of vehicles for 20 minutes in the morning before becoming quiet for the rest of the day. The organization stated that navigating this sudden rush safely requires drivers to drop distractions and follow established routines.
