DC Child Accident & Safety Blog

Two officials from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) blamed First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move anti-obesity program for a small increase in pedestrian fatalities, then quickly backtracked after almost universal negative reaction to their remarks.

GHSA executive director Barbara Harsha told the Washington Examiner that “there is an emphasis these days to getting fit, and I think people doing that are more exposed to risk [of getting hit by a vehicle].” Another GHSA spokesman, Jonathan Adkins, told a local radio station that the First Lady is “trying to get us to walk to work and exercise a little bit more. While that's good, it also increases our exposure to risk.”

In 2010, 1,891 road deaths were recorded in the U.S., an increase of seven, or 0.2%, bucking a longterm downward trend. Harsha noted that “many factors” could be responsible for the small uptick, including increased use of iPhones, mp3 players and other devices that make pedestrians less aware of oncoming traffic.

The GHSA officials’ remarks were universally criticized, prompting quick retractions. Harsha later claimed she was misquoted and that the GHSA "in no way opposes Ms. Obama's program." Adkins now says he “did not blame Mrs. Obama for the small uptick in pedestrian deaths but simply noted that programs such as Mrs. Obama's may be increasing the number and frequency of pedestrians and thus exposing them to more risk.”

Sources: Washington Examiner and TheAtlanticWire