PROGRAM OVERVIEW
School Safety Education Program
An educational program focused on reducing child pedestrian- and bicycle-related injuries and
fatalities in San José through interactive safety presentations. This program operates as a
component of the City of San José Street Smarts Program, developed by the Department of
Transportation.
All too often, children are subjected to speeding cars, congestion, double-parking and blocked
crosswalks, creating a consistently chaotic environment around schools. The City’s safety
education program teaches behaviors that will help keep kids safe, beginning at an early age, in
this type of environment.
Another aspect of the program is to promote bicycling and walking to school to promote good
health for students, and improving the environment. Organizing group bike rides at schools,
educating students on the environmental and health benefits of riding/ walking to school, and
working with Safe Routes to School to ensure the safest routes around each school for students
are all ways the Street Smarts program works to promote bicycling and walking for a cleaner and
healthier environment.
The Program
This program focuses on educating children ages 5-15 years, on proper pedestrian and bicyclist
safety measures through an interactive presentation at elementary and middle schools throughout
San José. Our goal is to make children and adults aware of bad driver and pedestrian behaviors to
improve safety for children. As children participate in this interactive program they will be more
conscious of traffic concerns in and around school areas. Following the conclusion of each
interactive presentation, children receive a safety information handout to review with parents and
siblings. Through this interactive presentation, children are taught important pedestrian and
bicyclist behaviors such as:
• Play it safe – Use the crosswalk.
• Stop. Look left, right, left, front and back before crossing the street.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
• If you ride a bike, WEAR A HELMET.
In addition to school presentations, this program expands by conducting bicycle roadeos, helmet
giveaways, and helmet inspections at schools and community events. Bicycle roadeos allow
children to participate in an interactive bicycle safety simulation course to increase and improve
bicycle safety. At bike roadeos, children also have an opportunity to have their helmets inspected
for proper fit and some children may qualify to receive a new helmet at no charge. Helmet
giveaways will continuously be conducted at elementary and middle schools throughout San José.
Help us to make San José’s children Street Smart! Our program goal is to educate all elementary
and middle school children in San José over the course of two years. If you have not had a
presentation at your school, we invite you to take advantage of this innovative safety program,
available from the City of San José at no cost. The program offers alternative formats for
delivering the interactive safety presentation and also provides opportunities for community
volunteers to participate at bike roadeo events.
How do I schedule a safety presentation or bike roadeo?
If you would like more information about this program, or are interested in hosting an interactive
safety presentation or bike roadeo for children ages 5-15 years, contact Tara Jones, School Safety
Education Coordinator at (408) 975-3296 or by email at [Link]@[Link].