DC in Crisis: Hundreds of Volunteer Counselors Urgently Needed to Support Community
Program Summary
1. Washington, D.C. Seeks Volunteer Counselors for New Semester
The Washington area is recruiting volunteer counselors as the new semester begins. The DC Tutoring and Mentoring Initiative announced that the District needs 60,000 volunteer tutors and mentors. Last year, only 4,000 were recruited, according to Tom Pollak, the organization’s executive director.
“Two out of three kids are reading below grade level, and many more need help with math,” Pollack told WTOP Radio. “We support over 50 different nonprofits and schools, and we need people who can help out one to two hours a week.”
“You don’t have to have a college degree. Just be a caring adult, that’s what we call the main criteria,” Pollack added.
2. U.S. Proposes New Pedestrian Safety Rules for SUVs and Pickup Trucks
The U.S. government’s road safety agency is seeking to reduce pedestrian casualties by introducing new safety rules for larger SUVs and pickup trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a new rule that sets testing and performance requirements to minimize the risk of pedestrian head injuries.
The rule will cover all passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, but is primarily aimed at large SUVs and pickup trucks due to their increased size and hood heights, which create blind spots for drivers.
Data shows that almost half of pedestrian deaths occur when they are struck by the front of a vehicle, which is particularly common in SUVs and pickup trucks.
Automakers and the public will have 60 days to comment on the proposal, after which NHTSA will write final regulations.