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Kimberly Houk ReportingEvery year there are more than 300 accidents in Utah involving kids either walking or biking and cars. And that high number has the Utah Department of Transportation trying to figure out ways to keep kids safer.
One of the ideas they’ve come up with is a new DVD geared towards kids, teaching them all the basic rules about traffic safety, like the importance of looking both ways before crossing a street and always using a crosswalk. And that is just one of many safety tips this DVD covers.
Sharyle Karren, Altara Elementary: “Doing things like having a chant or a song for the rules is just a wonderful way to help the kids remember what they're supposed to do when they come to a corner."
It's an entertaining way to get kid's attention and teach them everything from how to safely cross a street to what road signs mean. UDOT wants every elementary school in the state to have a copy of this video.
Robert Hull, UDOT: “We felt that it was important that we get to the kids and teach them some of the things that they can do on their own to be safe out there."
Thirteen kids were killed last year after being hit by a car while they were either walking or biking near a road.
Today all the students at Altara Elementary School in Salt Lake watched the new video, and they understood the message.
McCall: “It's telling kids that they need to follow the rules."
Sharyle Karren: “I think it'll make a difference, ‘cause it's a fun reminder to the kids that there are rules that they already know."
And students got into it, learning a chant to help them remember the most basic traffic rule.
“What'll we do when we cross the street, look right, look left, look right again."
Again, UDOT wants this DVD in every elementary school, and school's can get a free copy of it by contacting UDOT.
