"Zombies" Recruited For Street Smart Campaign

As Halloween approaches and streets are growing darker earlier, transportation leaders in D.C. are using the "un-dead" to launch a new pedestrian safety campaign.

Mike Ferrell with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments helped kick off the Street Smart campaign at Georgetown's Waterfront Park. "Driving while texting, distracted driving generally, to a lesser degree distracted walking, they're all big issues," said Ferrell.

Using a local troupe of zombie actors was supposed to bring attention to safety and the new campaign "Don't be a Zombie: Walk, Ride and Bike ALIVE." But the actors never showed up. Instead Derek, along with fellow 9th graders Mark and Adam, were recruited from Wilson High School. They crossed Wisconsin Avenue, walking like zombies while texting and on cell phones. "My dad always taught me; cross at the crosswalks. We don't want people ending up like we are. You know...zombies," said Derek.

George Branyan is director of D.C.'s Pedestrian Program. "In the District, more people are hit doing the right thing than the wrong thing," said Branyan. "More often, people are hit crossing the street in the crosswalk and with the signal than they are just stepping out in a mid-block situation."

Approximately 90 pedestrians are killed in the metro area every year.

Stephanie Kaye reports...