Ohio Department of Transportation • Fact Sheet
DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS
1980 West Broad Street • Columbus, Ohio 43223
www.transportation.ohio.gov
“Every Move You Make, Keep It Safe” Fact Sheet
What:
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is launching a statewide, comprehensive
Ohio Safe Routes to School campaign to educate Ohio’s 1.2 million K-8th graders, their
families, teachers and school officials on appropriate safety practices for walking and
bicycling to school. The campaign is called “Every Move You Make, Keep It Safe.”
Campaign elements include:
 A school safety contest that encourages teachers and students to create their own
safety messages and programs within their classroom and school to win prizes
 Posters and tip cards with traffic safety tips
 Classroom activities that reinforce key safety messages
 Everymove.ohio.gov website where teachers can post their comments, photos and
classroom safety programs and messages
 Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that remind all roadway users how to travel
safely near schools
 A video featuring a hip hop safety song performed by the All-Ohio Safe Routes to
School Show Choir to be used in classrooms statewide
Who:
The “Every Move You Make, Keep It Safe” educational campaign is part of ODOT’s Ohio Safe
Routes to School program. It represents ODOT’s largest, most comprehensive effort to date
to educate people about school safety. Ohio’s First Lady, Karen Waldbillig Kasich, will serve
as ambassador for the Ohio Safe Routes to School program. Funding for the
campaign comes from federal Safe Routes to School dollars designated for Education
and Encouragement.
When:
The Safe Routes to School educational outreach campaign launched on October 4, 2011 to
coincide with October International Walk and Bike to School Month and will continue
through the 2012 - 2013 school year.
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Why:
ODOT created the ”Every Move You Make, Keep It Safe” educational campaign to improve
awareness and engage more schools, teachers and students in effective safety practices.
Between 2008 and 2010, 11,734 bicycle and pedestrian-related crashes occurred within two
miles of Ohio K-8 schools. This resulted in 244 fatalities and 7,350 injuries.
How:
By incorporating walking/bicycling safety education into classroom activities, schools can
promote the importance of safety to help more students adopt safe walking/bicycling
practices as well as healthier lifestyles. Students will take messages home to encourage
caregivers to be aware of – and to support – safe walking and bicycling techniques.
Benefits:
Teaching Ohio’s younger students proper safety techniques can lead to more children to
walking or bicycling to school, which has many positive outcomes including:
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Related Websites:
Reduced Crashes – ODOT believes improved safety education will encourage safer
behaviors helping to reduce injuries and fatalities near schools.
Prevention of Childhood Obesity – According to the Ohio Department of Health and
the Ohio Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS), 34% of Hispanic children,
27% of Caucasian children and 25% of African-American pre-school children in Ohio
are overweight. Obesity affects 17% of Ohio third graders while an additional 18% of
these children are overweight.
Improved School Performance – Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) found that physical activity – such as bicycling and walking before
and after school –increases students’ attention span and concentration in class.
Improved Safety for Walkers and Bicycle Riders – Fewer cars on the road reduces
traffic during school drop off and pick up.
Increased Self-Sufficiency – Empowering children to follow basic safety rules inspires
confidence and helps them learn self-reliance and independence.
Fuel Economy and Reduced Air Pollution – Fewer cars on the road benefit everyone.
www.everymove.ohio.gov
www.dot.state.oh.us/saferoutes