Group Makes Right Moves With Students

Pat Hines admits that when it comes to delivering a serious message to children, it doesn’t hurt to wrap it in something appealing.

That’s partly why, during an appearance Friday with her nonprofit traffic-safety group Safe Moves, the executive director had a crowd of Victory Boulevard School students completely riveted. They had been offered discount coupons to Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios and other popular Southern California spots in exchange for their attentiveness.

At the end of the half-hour session that covered the basics of crossing the street, obeying road signs and wearing bicycle helmets and seat belts, one student faced a question from Hines about lights at a railroad crossing still flashing after a train has passed. All the prizes were riding on his answer.

“It means . . . another train is coming?” he ventured.

“That . . . is . . . the right answer!” Hines replied, drawing a tumultuous cheer from dozens of amusement park-bound children.

Later, between half-hour programs presented at the elementary school’s auditorium, Hines said, “If they can learn Barney songs, why can’t they learn about traffic? It shouldn’t matter what the subject is.”

The Van Nuys-based Safe Moves is funded by the city Department of Transportation, the California Office of Traffic Safety and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It offers instruction to children statewide from kindergarten through the 12th grade, and at the rate of about 45,000 students a month.

The organization’s figures show that Los Angeles County bicycle- and pedestrian-related deaths, while still among the highest in the country, have declined by 25% and 30%, respectively, since 1993. Bicycle and pedestrian injuries have likewise dipped by 19% and 34%, respectively. Hines contends Safe Moves’ efforts have played a part in that.

“Going back to school is a dangerous time of year,” she reminded the audience. “People are eating, putting on makeup and doing everything in the car but looking out for you.”