The (B)right campaign is focused on educating elementary school students about bicycle and pedestrian safety
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority has launched a pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign, called (B)right, to educate children how to stay safe after dark as the end of daylight-saving time approaches on Nov. 1.
In Orange County, nearly 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and one in four bike fatalities occur between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. To increase visibility to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists should wear lights, light-colored clothing and reflective gear. All rules of the road should also be followed.
The campaign targets elementary schools in areas with high levels of pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Letters were sent to principals of about 80 schools, encouraging them to get involved. This includes making announcements about bike safety, delivering informational brochures to parents and students, displaying banners on campus and recognizing National Walk to School Day.
Walking school buses, where students meet in a predetermined location and walk to school together, along with other activities, are also planned at various after-school programs in several different cities.
The media is invited to attend a kick-off bike rodeo event at the Fairhaven Elementary School, 1415 Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana, at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. The rodeo will provide students with interactive bike safety training. Bicycles will be available for use at the event.
For more information on the campaign and low-light visibility safety, visit www.octa.net/Bike/Bright.
