Patricia M. Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), will join Michael J. Klag, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), at a kick-off rally Tuesday, March 4, to launch an East Baltimore pedestrian safety campaign.

Developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy at the JHSPH, the campaign pulls resources from experts at the JHSPH, JHSON, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The initiative aims to reinforce awareness of pedestrian and vehicle safety and reduce the incidence of pedestrian injury and vehicle accidents. The key message is “STOP, WAIT, GO SLOW. Be Alert and Don’t Get Hurt.”  Both the message and strategy are based on several formative research studies, including a 3,900-plus respondent online survey; an observational behavior study; focus group discussions; and literature reviews.

The multiplatform campaign is funded by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office and Johns Hopkins University and will feature safety tips on radio, buses, metro stations, sandwich boards, signage throughout the Johns Hopkins East Baltimore campus, and the schools’ social media platforms.  
         
Noting “The safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount,” deans Davidson and Klag explained that the impetus for developing the campaign is the growing incidence of pedestrian and distracted driving accidents in and around the campus. On average, more than 100 pedestrians are killed every year by a vehicle in Maryland (and nearly 4,500 nationally according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In Baltimore City alone, 700 pedestrians are hit by a vehicle every year. In most cases, drivers and pedestrians are equally at fault.

Elements of the campaign are now appearing throughout the East Baltimore campus and more will be seen following the rally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in front of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Administration Building (Billings), 601 N. Broadway. Andrea C. Gielen, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research & Policy, and Daniel G. Ennis, senior vice president for finance and administration, will join deans Davidson and Klag at the kick-off rally.