Pace Car for Kids

Smart Sneaker
Week

Adventure Book

Pizza Party

Walk-n-Wave on Wednesday (WOW)

Walking School Bus

Program Events
Schedule

The initial phase of the Traffic Busters Program will start at the end of September and run for three weeks, in each of the participating schools. Below is a brief outline of the first 4 steps of the program. Click on the Program Events Schedule for a more detailed timetable.

Our Plan: 4 Steps to Safer Streets

October 4th - October 15th Step 1: Pace Car
October 4th - 8th Step 2: Smart Sneaker Week
October 4th - 15th Step 3: Adventure Books
Last week of October Step 4: Pizza Party

Follow-on Activities

In mid October, kids and parents will be introduced to Walk-N-Wave On Wednesday. Each child that participates will get a foam hand to carry to school and wave in the air as they walk. Motorists will be educated by news stories, that every time they see a child with a foam hand, it is a reminder to slow down and make streets safer for kids. It also provides ongoing interest for the children in walking to school.

The Traffic Busters program has 5 major components:

1. Pace Car. Adults agree to drive within the speed limit and stop to let pedestrians cross. This makes it safer for kids to walk. Your child will ask you, and other adults, to sign the Pace Car Pledge and to display the Pace Car sticker on your car. Kids earn Frequent Walker points for every pace car they sign up
2. Smart Sneaker Week. For one week, children will be encouraged to walk all the way to school, or for the last ten minutes of the journey, for as many days as possible. Children earn Frequent Walker Points for each time they walk.
3. Adventure Books. Children (and parents who walk with them) make pages that recount their adventures while walking during Smart Sneaker Week. They will also ask you about your adventures when you used to walk to school. They may even ask you to make a page illustrating your adventures. These pages will be used to make the Class Adventure Book.
4. WOW! (Walk-n-Wave On Wednesday). After Smart Sneaker Week, children will be encouraged to keep walking each Wednesday. They will also be encouraged to wave at motorists to remind them to slow down and to make the motorists more aware of children walking.
5. Walking School Bus. Parents who live within walking distance of the school will be encouraged to set up Walking School Buses (groups of children who walk with adult supervision).

The Traffic Busters Program is designed to encourage kids to walk to school. Walking not only improves health, it gives kids a sense of community and reduces traffic (improved safety and less pollution). It also stimulates their creativity and means they start the school day energized and alert.