SEEMORE THE SAFETY CLOWN TO VISIT ILLINOIS CLASSROOMS By SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE H. RYAN

As Secretary of State, traffic safety is one of my most important responsibilities. And with school doors opening again, now is a great time for teachers and community groups to educate young children about traffic safety. Studies show that children who learn bicycle and pedestrian safety habits at a young age will carry these habits into their adult life. By teaching children to respect the rules of the road and obey traffic laws while walking or riding a bike, we can develop safer drivers when they become teenagers.

Seemore the Safety Clown, our new traffic safety mascot, will make his appearance at special events across the state this fall. He also is expected to visit elementary schools over the coming school year and teach children about obeying traffic signs, crossing the street, bicycle and pedestrian safety and proper conduct when riding in a car or bus. This fun-loving, colorful character will capture the attention of many a curious face and will serves as a friendly reminder to children that although traffic safety is an extremely important matter, learning about it can be fun.

A coloring and activity book featuring Seemore the Safety Clown will be given to each child. The book includes large pictures to color of Seemore instructing children in various traffic situations, a maze and pictures of traffic signs, along with directions for coloring.

Children are particularly vulnerable in traffic situations. Because of their quick and curious nature, they easily can become victims of traffic accidents. In Illinois, bicycle accidents involving a motor vehicle took the lives of 11 children between the ages of five and 14 in 1990. More than 1,838 were injured. In addition, more than 13 percent of all pedestrians killed that year were children less than 14 years of age.

Because of these grave statistics, my Driver Services Department is committed to developing traffic safety programs with youngsters in mind. Through these programs, young people in our communities will learn the fundamentals of bicycle and pedestrian safety and learn to take responsibility for their own actions and safety.

In addition to Seemore the Safety Clown, my office has an active bicycle safety program. A free Bicycle Skills Course Manual is available to aid community groups and schools in organizing and sponsoring Bicycle Skills Courses for children. Participating community groups include police and fire departments, park districts, bicycle shops, churches, scout groups and day camps. The course is designed to be operated by the sponsoring group alone; however, Secretary of State staff are available to assist.

The Bicycle Skills Course offers children an opportunity to measure their actual riding ability before entering street traffic. Children learn and practice bicycle skills in a safe, protected environment and increase their knowledge and awareness of bicycle laws and defensive cycling.

Last spring, my office co-sponsored a bicycle safety poster contest with the Schwinn Bicycle Company in conjunction with Bicycle Safety Month. This annual event creates awareness among children who will be dismissing soon for the summer and taking their bicycles to the streets. The contest is open to students statewide in kindergarten through eighth grade.

My office also houses an extensive traffic safety film and video library. More than 170 films and videos are available on loan to civic groups and school classrooms and are a perfect complement to any community or school-based traffic safety program. Topics range from teaching pre-schoolers about bicycle and pedestrian safety, to warning teenagers about the destructive effects of drunk driving and how to avoid negative peer pressure.

To receive a copy of our Traffic Safety Film & Video Library list, write to Secretary of State, Communications Department, Traffic Safety Film and Videotape Library, 319 N. Klein, Springfield, Illinois 62702, or call 217/782-2845.

For more information about other traffic safety programs, write to Liz Hager, Driver Services Department, Traffic Safety Division, Program Development, 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62723, or call 217/785-1444. •

September 1992 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 5