A new safety campaign designed to raise pedestrian-safety awareness in Denver will formally kick off today near the site of an accident that critically injured a teenager earlier this year.

“Heads Up” will be a citywide marketing plan that uses billboards to make drivers more mindful of pedestrians. Denver has had more than 100 auto-pedestrian accidents so far this year, and last year there were 265 auto-bike wrecks in the city that led to serious injuries or death. The Denver Post reported last month that accidents were up almost 35 percent from Jan. 1 to April 24 when compared to the same time in 2010. The newspaper also reported hit-and-run cases have increased 55 percent “over each of the previous four years.”

The “Heads Up” press conference will include Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and police chief Robert White and will begin at 1:30 p.m. outside East High School. On Feb. 26, an East student was severely injured in a hit-and-run accident near the school; minutes later, another teenager was hit by a different vehicle just a few blocks away.

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