SEOUL, July 22, 2019, — FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and Safe Kids Korea, released the results of a survey on children’s use of electronic devices while walking.
The survey, undertaken with 937 students from seven elementary schools in Seoul, revealed that 8 out of 10 (79 %) elementary school students had used electronic devices such as smartphones while walking and 33% said they experienced or almost experienced a traffic accident while using an electronic device.
According to the survey:
- 91% said they own a smartphone. Among them, 66% said they always have the smartphone with them while walking home from school, and 79% said they have used the device while walking.
- More girls (76%) used a smartphone while walking than boys (56%). Of those surveyed, 52% responded that they always or often use a smartphone or device while walking to talk on the phone, compared to 27% to send text messages and 21% to play games.
- Among the respondents, 33% said they experienced being hit by a car or nearly being hit by a car while using a smartphone or device like wearing earphones.
- Concerning the need for safety education, 68% of the students recognized the need for education related to using electronic devices while walking. This means the safety education currently provided to children is needed on a continuous basis.
“At FedEx, road safety is a top priority as our team operates over 400 vehicles across Korea and thus recognizes the importance of safety awareness for all users on the road,” said Eun-Mi Chae, managing director of FedEx Express Korea. “With an increasing number of children engaged in distract walking due to the use of electronics, we believe it
is important to enhance awareness of road safety education to young pedestrians from an early age to reduce and prevent road accidents.”
To enhance road safety awareness, FedEx and Safe Kids Korea launched the “Mom’s Hand Campaign” March 26, with elementary school students. The campaign reaches children to hold yellow signs shaped like a mom’s hand (so they are visible to drivers).
The survey and the Mom’s Hand Campaign are a part of the FedEx and Safe Kids Korea Walk This Way program. FedEx and Safe Kids Korea have conducted the Walk This Way program since 2003 to raise awareness about pedestrian safety. This includes educational road user activities and the facilitation of improvements to the pedestrian environment around schools.