Every day of the year in every city in America, you can see elementary school students riding their bicycles to school. They weave in and out of traffic, or ride quickly down the sidewalk to make it to school on time. Often it appears as though some of the students are not operating their bikes in the safest manner. In fact, when was the last time you observed a student using safety gear, such as a helmet, elbow and kneepads, or safety reflectors on their bicycles?
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, 17 bicyclists were killed in Clark County during 2005-2006. In all of these instances the riders were not wearing helmets. During the same time period, 67 motor vehicle-bicycle crashes in North Las Vegas resulted in injuries. Of these, 40% involved children ages 15 and under. Although specific injury-type data was not captured, we can reasonably assume that the injuries would be in line with the national statistics which reflect that "nearly half (47 percent) of all children ages 14 and under hospitalized for bicycle-related injuries are diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries"( http://www.usa.safekids.org). One recent, tragic incident was the death of a North Las Vegas boy on July 4, 2008. The eight-year-old was not wearing his helmet when he rode his bicycle into the side of a slow-moving car and died due to trauma to the head.
Have you ever wondered why students do not know basic traffic laws or if there is a reason that they do not wear safety gear? Do any of the students even own safety gear? The North Las Vegas Police Department took a look at bicycle safety issues regarding elementary school students with these questions in mind. As a result of this review, it was decided to petition the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, for bicycle safety grant funding to provide bicycle safety gear, protective gear, and top-quality training on bicycle safety, rules of the road, and local traffic laws for elementary students.
When Department representatives met with the Bike Safety Grant Committee they discussed the possibility that the majority of elementary school students coming from families whose income falls below the poverty line would most likely not be able to afford the proper safety gear. Additionally, these students would more than likely not have an opportunity to receive top-quality training from a certified professional bicycle safety trainer. Yet through the grant award, they could and would be provided these opportunities.
The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) approved a $30,000 grant to provide the following equipment and training for 900 students in 2006:
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Safety helmets with North Las Vegas Police Department badge on front and “THINK BIKE SAFETY” on both sides in reflective lettering;
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A drawstring-style backpack with the City logo, Police Department badge, and Fire Department logo on the back;
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Protective knee and elbow pads;
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T-shirts with the Tom Williams Elementary School Tiger on the front and the City logo, Police Department badge, and Fire Department logo on the back;
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Reflective safety flags that attach to bicycles with City of North Las Vegas and “THINK BIKE SAFETY” screened on the reflector;
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Safety pledge cards that have a wrist coil for carrying;
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Coil bicycle locks with keys;
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Sixteen (16) brand new bicycles to raffle at the event finale;
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A series of six assemblies on bicycle safety, rules of the road, traffic laws, and proper use of bike safety equipment given by a North Las Vegas Police Department training officer certified in instructing bicycle safety.
The OTS bike safety grand finale took place on May 25, 2006. Approximately 700 to 800 Tom Williams Elementary School students met at College Park in North Las Vegas for “Ride Your Bike to School Day 2006.” City officials and police officers kicked off the event with a parade of the students and City representatives riding approximately four city blocks from College Park to Tom Williams Elementary School. Following the parade, students partook in festivities, including a bicycle raffle, an ice cream giveaway, and the recitation of the bike safety pledge.
Since the original 2006 event, the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety has awarded the City with additional grants so that similar programs continue to bring bicycle safety education to approximately 6,000 students at twelve North Las Vegas area elementary schools over a three-year period.
With the newest program, “Retain Your Brain,” Crime Prevention Specialists from the Police Department's Community Services Division present energetic, high momentum bicycle safety assemblies to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at four schools each grant year. All programs are scheduled for May to correspond with National Bicycle Safety Month.
The assembly curriculum follows the guidelines from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety's Elementary-Traffic Safety Instructor program. As part of this assembly, students are encouraged to take a bicycle safety oath and sign a bicycle safety pledge card. To promote family discussion and participation, students are sent home with bicycle safety literature to be reviewed with their parents/guardians. During the week following the bicycle safety assembly, Crime Prevention Specialists and volunteers return to each school and fit all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students with a free helmet to take home.
The North Las Vegas Police Department recognizes that in educating children on safety practices, constant reinforcement is the key to retention. Reinforcement for Retain Your Brain takes form in rewarding children "Caught Being Safe" on their bicycles before or after school following the completion of the helmet-fitting events. Rewards donated by various community partners are issued by Crime Prevention Specialists and patrol officers.
In May 2008, Retain Your Brain had successful visits to Eva Wolfe Elementary, Theron & Naomi Goynes Elementary, Richard Priest Elementary, and Steve Cozine Elementary.
