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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Unveils "Safe Kids are Cool Kids" Calendar
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/11/2006 12:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor Unveils "Safe Kids are Cool Kids" Calendar
Calendar educates kids on how to be safe on their feet
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today rolled out a colorful and fun pedestrian
safety calendar developed by elementary school children to highlight safe walking
tips.
Unveiled this morning, the 2006 “Safe Kids are Cool Kids” calendar
features winners of a pedestrian safety drawing contest.
Nickels was joined by Steve Wilson, Seattle Public Schools Chief Academic
Officer, and John Bishop, Vice President Operations, State Farm Pacific Northwest
Zone.
“This calendar shows that children understand the importance of walking
safely in Seattle,” Nickels said. “Safety starts at home. I hope
every family uses their calendar as a reminder that whenever they're walking
or driving - safety comes first.”
The event was held to recognize the efforts of the more than 500 students
who participated in last year’s contest, especially the 14 students who
are featured in the “Safe Kids are Cool Kids” calendar. Several
of the winners participated in the ceremony with the mayor.
“The coloring contest made learning fun and real,” Wilson said. “Our
students showed that they can teach us all a few lessons by highlighting key
walking and driving tips.”
Approximately 26,000 calendars were distributed to Seattle Public School elementary
school students. State Farm Insurance paid for printing the calendars
“When we heard of Mayor Nickels’ campaign to make streets safer
for pedestrians, we wanted to partner in the effort,” Bishop said. “Being
the biggest auto insurer means we bear witness to more traffic accidents --
including those involving pedestrians -- than any other insurance company.
That means we have to be a leader in improving the safety of our city streets
and highways.”
The calendar entries were judged by the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board.
Last May, Nickels launched a 10-point Pedestrian Safety Campaign to increase
driver and pedestrian awareness. Since then, the City has installed 34 “Think
of The Impact You Can Make” signs and billboards throughout the city;
improved more than 100 crosswalks; increased the penalty for any vehicle that
hits a pedestrian up to $5,000; is visiting more than 50 schools to hold pedestrian
safety assemblies; and is piloting a red light running program that will put
cameras at several high accident locations.
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s
inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic
opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter
at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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Office of the Mayor
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