Why Create a Coalition
Partnering with other entities that have a shared focus is needed for a comprehensive approach to saving pedestrian lives.
Who Should Be In the Coalition
Coalition membership should include the individuals and groups listed below.
- Virginia Department of Transportation resident engineer:
Suggested duties are to facilitate roadway audits on areas with a high number of pedestrian crashes - Law enforcement officer:
Suggested duties are to generate pedestrian crash data and identify causative factors - Fire and EMS representative:
Suggested duties are to discuss types of injuries suffered during pedestrian-related crashes and preventative measures - Groups representing homeowners and businesses:
Suggested duties are to identify areas where pedestrians frequently travel as designated by local citizens - Advocacy groups representing walking and/or biking:
Suggested duties are to identify methods to educate drivers and pedestrians - Other members to consider are public health educators, medical care providers, media partners, driver education teachers and other educators
First Steps
After establishing a list of proposed coalition members and their contact information, it is recommended that a name for the coalition be created, a schedule of regular meetings be established, and invitations to attend the meetings be extended to coalition members
At the first meeting, the coalition should establish a goal statement, such as, “The county Pedestrian Safety Coalition will reduce pedestrian-related crashes in our locality by 20 percent in two years.” The goal statement should provide a specific achievement to work toward, and the tasks for the coalition’s members should tie into the goal.
Specific agendas should be created and include:
- Operational and construction projects intended to fix specific pedestrian issues in your locality
- Changes in infrastructure designed to improve streets and intersections for pedestrian use
- Enforcement programs aimed at deterring motorists and pedestrians from violating pedestrian-related laws
- Educational campaigns that strive to educate all road users about pedestrian safety
More agenda items specific to your locality should be added as needed.
Coalition Strategies
The coalition should identify appropriate countermeasures or strategies to reach its goal of reducing pedestrian crashes. These countermeasures may include stepped up enforcement, engineering or road design solutions, education and outreach, or a combination of those.
As part of the coalition, identify ways to use the elements of this toolkit. Coalition members could:
- Post the sample social media content and videos on their organizations’ social media sites
- Distribute the printed materials through their organization
- Ask retailers that support traffic safety, such as restaurants, insurance companies and law offices, to distribute materials