CDOT unveils new pedestrian safety campaign

The Colorado Department of Transportation has introduced a new character, Fred Estrian, to raise awareness about pedestrian safety.

The new safety campaign features a series of animated shorts highlighting Estrian’s mission to protect the lives of Colorado’s pedestrians, and highlighting some of the major factors that play a role in pedestrian deaths.

“We wanted to think outside the box – literally – as a way to promote crosswalks and increase pedestrian safety,” said Sam Cole, Traffic Safety Communications Manager with CDOT. “Through Fred, the campaign is able to raise awareness and provide the entertaining and engaging content needed to make a lasting impression on pedestrians and drivers alike,” Cole said.

CDOT says the campaign will eventually expand to include stencil art at crosswalks, intersections and transitional areas such as parking garages.

1,330 carshes involving pedestrians were reported in Colorado in 2015. 59 pedestrians were killed. CDOT says 72% of the crashes happened at non-intersections.