Walksafe keeps walking for 15 years: A program review

Abstract

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 14 years. The WalkSafe program was developed in response to the number of children admitted to Miami–Dade County, Florida, level-1 trauma centers. WalkSafe was piloted in an initially high-risk neighborhood, which now exhibits a low density of pedestrian crashes. Following countywide implementation of WalkSafe, trauma data exhibit a 78% decrease in pediatric injuries. This article provides a 15-year review of WalkSafe and its role in decreasing pediatric pedestrian injuries in Miami–Dade County. Every year, an alarming number of child pedestrians are injured on the nation’s roadways. In Miami–Dade County, Florida, the WalkSafe program aims to reduce pediatric injury through targeted education and multitiered collaboration with community partners.