'Pedestrians, pay attention,' new USF campaign urges

State officials have a message for people who worry about being run over while they're out walking: It's up to you to stay safe.

Take your headphones off. Don't assume the driver sees you just because you're in the crosswalk. And stay sober; in 40 percent of Florida pedestrian deaths, the walker had been drinking.

The message is part of a new program called WalkWise Tampa Bay. The University of South Florida's transportation research center put it together with $170,000 from the state Department of Transportation.

The Tampa Bay area ranks second in pedestrian deaths nationally, according to Safe Traffic Policy Partnership and Transportation for America. The Orlando-Kissimmee area is number one.

The state accounted for more than 11 percent of pedestrian deaths nationally, though it has only 6 percent of the U.S. population.

Over the next year, WalkWise organizers plan to offer about 400 free presentations to community groups, neighborhood associations and workplaces in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

"We're trying the reach every group that wants to listen," said Julie Bond, who's coordinating the program for USF's Center for Urban Transportation Research.

CUTR has put together a 15-minute program to encourage defensive walking.

"It's meant to get people thinking that they really need to be careful," Bond said.

"Everyone is a pedestrian at some point during their day - whether they are taking a walk, walking to school or just walking from their car in the parking lot."

The program includes safety tips for drivers, but it's geared mostly toward getting walkers to take steps to be safe.

WalkWise is also promoting efforts like the Gulf Boulevard flag program, in Clearwater. Walkers at 30 crosswalks can use large flags highlighted with reflective tape to get drivers' attention.

And when they're on the other side, they replace the flag for the next walker.

Go to walkwisetampabay.com for more information or to sign up to host a presentation.