Forsman & Bodenfors has found a clever way to insert a safety feature into GPS satellite navigation: Have the app switch to a child’s voice near schools, day-care centers and other areas where children are likely to be present.

The video below explains the “Slow Down GPS” app, which F&B—the Swedish agency best known for its “Epic Split” ad with Jean-Claude Van Damme—created for If Insurance. “We think of it as a subtle audio sign that says, ‘Children at play,’ ” the agency explains.

Our friends at Safe Kids Worldwide in the United States of America have developed a new campaign and interactive infographic focusing on simple tips to avoid being hit by a car as a child and youth. We think that much of this information is revelant to our youth audience and network to so we share it with you here.

Safe Kids Worldwide  found that one in five high school students and one in eight middle school students were observed crossing the street distracted. Students were most often texting on a phone (39 percent) or using headphones (39 percent). Girls were 1.2 times more likely than boys to be walking while distracted.

Whether your kids are walking to school, the park or a friend’s house, here are a few simple tips to make sure they get there safely.

Teach Kids How to Walk Safely

• Teach kids at an early age to look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking while crossing by keeping their heads up and looking around until safely across.
• It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Teach kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
• Children under 10 need to cross the street with an adult. Every child is different, but developmentally, most kids are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until age 10.
• Encourage kids to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up.
• Teach kids not to run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
• If kids are walking when it’s dark out, teach them to be especially alert and make sure they are visible to drivers. Have them wear light- or brightly-colored clothing and reflective gear.

While much of the information here is geared towards children, we think a lot of the tips in the interactive infographic can be useful and helpful for youth too! Share with your networks. Click below:

Take Action Against Distraction

• Teach kids to put phones, headphones and devices down when crossing the street. It is particularly important to reinforce the message with teenagers.
• Put headphones down or turn off the volume before crossing the street.
• Be aware of others who may be distracted and speak up when you see someone who is in danger.
• IKf kids need to use a cell phone, teach them to stop walking and find a safe area to talk. 

Let Your Actions Speak as Loudly as Your Words

• Be a good role model. Set a good example by putting your phone, headphones and devices down when walking around cars.
• When driving, put cell phones and other distractions in the back seat or out of sight until your final destination.
• Be especially alert and slow down when driving in residential neighborhoods and school zones. Be on the lookout for bikers, walkers or runners who may be distracted or may step into the street unexpectedly.
• Give pedestrians the right of way and look both ways when making a turn to spotany bikers, walkers or runners who may not be immediately visible.

Download these tips from Safe Kids Worldwide here.

Back in 2009, YOURS launched itself on the global stage at the First Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in hosted by the Russian Federation in Moscow, Russia. Since then, we have seen some remarkable developments for global road safety. As the follow up to this event takes place in November in Brasilia, Brazil, YOURS is pushing for a youth-led side event on Children and Road Safety.

April 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) welcomed the Brazilian Government’s offer to host the 2nd Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety through a resolution entitled “Improving Global Road Safety”. The Conference will take place in Brasilia, Brazil on 18-19 November 2015, during the week in which many groups around the world mark the annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It is estimated that the Conference will bring together over 1,500 participants from 150 countries, among them Ministers of Health, Cities, Transport, and Interior; senior officials from United Nations agencies; representatives of civil society; and business leaders.

This 2nd Conference is inspired by and follows the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Russia in 2009, which gathered more than 70 ministers and 1,500 participants from around the world. The main outcome was a Declaration urging the United Nations to call for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Launched officially in May 2011, the Decade of Action aims at saving 5 million lives during this ten-year period. The 2nd Conference is a reaction to a serious public health problem that affects countries socially and economically, in particular low- and middle-income countries.

The 2nd Conference is timely, in that it takes place during the final negotiations of the goals which will be set as part of the post-2015 development agenda. It will also be an opportunity for Member States to exchange information and experiences on best practices in road safety. Delegates will review progress in implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 and identify concretely how to achieve its stated goal. It is a unique moment to bring a new impetus to the Decade of Action at its mid-point – a time to reaffirm commitments and propose new strategies for the next five years, in light of the scenario that should emerge from discussions on the new Sustainable Development Goals.

Main discussion items include:

1. Key achievements in the Decade of Action
2. Next steps in achieving the goal of the Decade of Action
3. Road safety towards 2030
4. Global targets and indicators for road safety
5. Pillars of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action
6. Emerging issues in road safety

Side events are to be organized at the 2nd Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety with a view to sharing experiences and increasing opportunities for informal dialogue among the meetings’ participants. YOURS along with a group of international partners is proposing a side event on Children and Youth.

Globally, 1000 young people under the age of 25 die every day on the roads. Road traffic injuries are the biggest killer for young people aged 10-24 years.

A broad coalition of organizations proposes a side event with a focus on road safety for children and youth. The side event will give delegates to the conference the opportunity to delve deeper into the road safety crisis facing children and youth. It will explore the actionable steps that Ministers, civil society, foundations and the private sector could and should take to create a future generation of road safety conscious young people to ultimately save lives. This event has been proposed to the organizers of the Brasilia event.

Objectives will include: