Robert Wood Johnson, Safe Kids Middlesex County & FedEx to Host Event for International Walk to School Day on October 7

DUNELLEN, N.J. – Faber Elementary School students will learn about pedestrian safety and safe walking environments this Wednesday, Oct. 7 when Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) joins Safe Kids Middlesex County and FedEx volunteers for International Walk to School Day.

“Every day, 44 children get hit by a motor vehicle in the United States. By walking with students on International Walk to School Day, we can show them how to walk safely,” said Diana Starace, injury prevention coordinator at RWJUH and Safe Kids Middlesex County.

Faber Elementary School students are some of the more than 250,000 children across the United States expected to participate in International Walk to School Day to learn safe walking behaviors.

This year, volunteers from RWJUH’s Injury Prevention team at the hospital’s Level I Trauma Center, Safe Kids Middlesex County and FedEx, in partnership with the Dunellen police, fire and EMS departments, will meet students and school staff at St. John’s or Columbia Park at 7:30 a.m. to travel to school together. Students will visit the FedEx truck to learn about pedestrian dangers, such as blind spots; making eye contact with drivers; and more. Led by Mayor Bob Seader, the Dunellen Community has been participating in International Walk to School Day for more than 10 years.

In 2000, Safe Kids Worldwide and program sponsor FedEx created the “Walk This Way” program in the United States to teach safe behaviors to motorists and child pedestrians and create safer, more walkable communities. Safe Kids and FedEx address the issue through research, physical improvements to school zones, and education and awareness campaigns throughout the year, such as International Walk to School Day.