How do you attract a diverse crowd of students to a relatively obscure safety event just weeks into a busy semester? The answer, according to some students, seems to involve combining practical, but amusing, activities with a tray full of delicious deli sandwiches (donated by Jimmie Johns).
On January 23, USF World International Student Support (ISS) teamed up with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) and the USF Police Department to conduct a Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Auto Safety event, attracting nearly 30 students. The event marked the sixth consecutive year that these departments contributed their knowledge and skills to this traffic safety event. This strong collaboration has contributed to the growing awareness among international students that practicing basic safety behaviors within crosswalks, behind the wheel, or on bicycles can prevent serious injuries and fatalities.
“We just want to keep students safe,” said Janna Eveland, Assistant Director of the International Student Support team. “By engaging international students in a meaningful way to help them understand the rules of the road in Florida, we can promote safety behaviors and save lives.”
Andy Baldwin, who donated the event’s refreshments, said that he loved partnering with groups seeking to make a positive difference in the lives of others. He also realized that the ways to students’ minds is other through their stomachs. “When I was a college student,” he observed, “free food would have gotten my attention as well.”
The ISS safety event is unique in that it veers away from typical "tabling" and instead towards experiential, simulated activities. One of the simulated activities focuses on pedestrian safety tips and is facilitated by Student Experience Leaders, who walk up and down a mock roadway in the lobby imitating traffic at a crudely constructed crosswalk composed of yellow and blue masking tape.
It’s easy to forget that traffic laws and policies vary from country-to-country, which can create safety hazards for international students. In countries where motorists drive on the left side of the road, for example, students new to the USA need to remember to look ‘left-right-left’ rather than ‘right-left-right’ before crossing the road. This subtle difference can make the difference between a safe and injurious pedestrian experience. Grace Chang, a USF undergraduate student, acknowledged that Florida has a high number of pedestrian deaths, and vowed - after participating in the event - to practice better safety behaviors. “It was a good reminder to look both ways before crossing because I don't always do that.”
The state of Florida was ranked highest in bicyclist fatalities per capita in 2021, according to US News and World Reports. In an effort to promote safety behaviors to mitigate these startling statistics, Brentin Mosher from the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) guided students on the importance of wearing a helmet properly and reflective materials when riding or walking at night. He also taught them how to make left- and right-hand signals when riding a bicycle.
USF undergraduate, Paula Carrillo, said that meeting with CUTR helped her to learn about important Florida bicycle laws, noting, “I learned it's illegal to wear earbuds while riding a bicycle.” Undergraduate Naw Tin said that she learned that bicyclists need to ride with the flow of traffic.
Alex Iler and Brian Goercke with the International Student Support team facilitated an activity to guide students on protocols, following an auto collision. Using two colliding chairs on wheels to represent a mock crash, Alex and Brian quizzed students on what they would do in various auto collision scenarios, including hit-and-run incidents. Grace Chang said that she would now reach out to law enforcement to request an accident report. “I knew you had to call for help,” she said, “but I didn’t know who you were supposed to call.” Undergraduate student, Chi Vo, said that she learned which information to collect from the scene and from other drivers for insurance purposes.
“Giving students information, then simulating it with cars really jogged their situational awareness on what to do after an accident occurs,” said Alex Iler. He added that the activity generated questions from students on how they could get their Florida driver’s licenses, and who to contact to get their vehicles repaired following a collision.
Nusha Buslova, a Student Experience Leader, observed that students also had quite a few questions about crosswalk signals and how to navigate intersections safely. “One notable gap in knowledge was the lack of awareness of making eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Many students were unaware that establishing visual contact with drivers could enhance their safety.”
Officer Nicole Marchesano with the USF Police Department (and her trusty therapy K-9, Bailey) led a simulated activity on what to do if stopped by a law enforcement office while operating a motor vehicle.
Officer Nicole Marchesano with the USF Police Department (and her trusty therapy K-9, Bailey) led a simulated activity on what to do if stopped by a law enforcement office while operating a motor vehicle. In some countries, for example, pedestrians are expected to exit their cars and approach the officer’s vehicle. Officer Marchesano guided students to remain in their vehicle and follow the officer’s instructions. She followed this activity with a warning about driving under the influence and used ‘alcohol impairment goggles’ to show students how they would be required to walk toe-to-heel if suspected of a DUI. USF graduate student, Shaghayegh Khodaverdian, said that she learned to stay in her car and put her hands on the steering wheel. For Paula Carrillo, the activity taught her to use alternate forms of transportation in cases when students drink to excess. “There’s no excuse (to drive under the influence),” she said. “If you’re gonna drink, use Uber or Lyft.”
Overall, many participants felt the event was a great way to learn about important safety practices. “(I liked) the interaction,” said Silvana Marulanda, a USF undergraduate student. “It wasn’t just information but fun activities. And there were sandwiches!”