WASHINGTON – Local and federal leaders gathered at Shepherd Elementary School in Northwest, D.C. Tuesday to speak to children about the importance of staying aware of their surroundings when they are near roads.

“You should be able to walk, bike or scooter safely in your community to get back and forth to school,” said Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

It is Global Road Safety Week, and there is a wide-spread call for safer roads and fewer tragedies.

Traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. and around the world, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit group that works to prevent childhood injury. In D.C., the number of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists has been rising over the past three years, while the total number of overall traffic crashes has been going up for the past six years.

“It’s our goal in the city to make sure we have a balanced and safe transportation network,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser

Dozens of students, parents and faculty members listened to the presentation. Among the speakers was U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx who told drivers to be more careful.

“All of us have to take some responsibility here to try to help,” Foxx said.

Foxx also called for more nationwide investment in things like sidewalks and bike lanes.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, more than 500 children are killed on or near roads every day around the world.