(Santa Ana, CA) – As 100+ Orange County schools celebrate International Walk To School Day on October 5, 2022, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) encourages all drivers to be alert and vigilant about driving safely in school zones and asks residents to take the Go Human Safety Pledge to help keep our students safe.
Walk To School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools, and the community.
Many of our local schools will be organizing Walk to School festivities which include carrying safety signs and encouraging messages, local law enforcement and firefighters walking alongside kids, and guest speakers attending special school safety rallies. It is an energizing event, reminding everyone of the simple joy of walking to school, the health benefits of regular daily activity, and the need for safe places to walk and bike.
“The HCA has taken the Safety Pledge as a public agency and is proud to support this initiative,” said Dr. Clayton Chau, Agency Director. “With so many schools back to in-person learning, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant about driving cautiously. Our hope is to have our cars and children safely co-exist on the streets in our communities.”
The HCA’s Public Health Services Injury Prevention team has supported the Walk To School program with education toolkits and materials, growing participation to more than 100 schools over the past 20 years. With the addition of this year’s Go Human Safety Pledge, local drivers are encouraged to contribute to the success of the annual Walk To School by taking the pledge to support local schools and our community.
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