Denver, August 11, 2009 - As hundreds of thousands of Colorado students return to school in the next weeks, AAA Colorado reminds motorists to slow down and watch out for school-age pedestrians.

Young children are still developing the mental and physical skills needed to handle traffic situations. For example, because children can’t judge a car’s distance and speed correctly, they’ll often let slow-moving cars pass, then try to cross in front of fast-moving ones. Because their peripheral vision is one-third narrower than an adult’s, children often miss seeing cars to their right or left. They also may not be tall enough to see over the hood of a parked car. Distracted youngsters can accidentally wander into traffic because they tend to focus only on what interests them.

AAA Colorado President Tony DeNovellis reminds motorists, “Children going to and from school can test drivers’ patience. They run in front of cars, dash from crosswalks into the road and pedal their bikes straight through red lights. At those times, it’s good for drivers to remember that while this behavior would be inexcusable from an adult, children act in these ways for a reason: they’re children.”

In the United States, more children die as a result of motor vehicle accidents than from any disease. Almost a quarter of those child fatalities are pedestrians.

Parents should encourage their children to stop, look and listen. They should accompany young children to and from school until they know their child has the necessary skills to walk or bike safely there without adult guidance.

Drivers also can help by paying attention to the children who share the roadways. To increase their safety, remember these tips:

• Children and adults perceive traffic differently. Accept children’s limitations and be ready to react.
• Make eye contact with children who are about to walk or bicycle across the street. Anticipate their next moves and make them aware of yours.
• Drive slowly near playgrounds and in residential neighborhoods. Scan both sides of the street; notice where children could run out from behind parked cars or other obstructions.
• Children often travel in packs. When you see one child, check for others.

AAA Colorado has more than 525,000 members and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.