100% Platinum Pacesetter 
Safety Belt Honor Roll                                   MARYLAND

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   During the past several years, Maryland law enforcement
   agencies received extensive state and national recognition for
   their promotion of safety belt use.  Prior goals and programs
   established by concerned highway safety groups in Maryland
   helped move communities towards increased safety belt use
   rates.  The state provided awards for 70, 80 and 90 percent
   reported safety belt use rates.  However, a number of police
   agencies and state and local communities and organizations
   reported rates of 100 percent, for which no national award
   existed.
   
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The goal of the 100% Platinum Pacesetter Safety Belt Honor
   Roll Program was to develop an award that would recognize
   those Maryland communities, organizations and agencies who
   achieved 100 percent safety belt use.  The program included
   the following objectives:

    Identification of existing safety belt usage awards on both
     state and national levels
   
    Combination and development of existing state and national
     awards into one award

    Unification of state and national endeavors to promote 100
     percent safety belt use, thereby increasing chance of
     survival in motor vehicle crashes

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Two separate safety belt usage recognition awards existed
   within Maryland: the National Highway Traffic Safety
   Administration's (NHTSA) Safety Belt Honor Roll Award and the
   Maryland Pacesetter Safety Belt Award.  NHTSA's award
   recognized 70 percent (bronze), 80 percent (silver) and 90
   percent (gold) safety belt usage rates.  The Maryland
   Pacesetter Award recognized agencies and organizations
   achieving yearly goals of over 78 percent safety belt usage.  
   After a number of Maryland agencies reported observational belt 
   usage rates of 100 percent under the guidelines of both NHTSA 
   and Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) awards, MSHA 
   developed the "100% Platinum Pacesetter Safety Belt Honor Roll 
   Award."  The 100% Platinum Pacesetter award combines NHTSA's 
   Honor Roll award and MSHA's Pacesetter award into one certificate 
   that recognizes perfect safety belt use.  

RESULTS
   The 100% Platinum Pacesetter Safety Belt Honor Roll Award was
   bestowed upon 53 agencies at a recent ceremony conducted
   jointly by MSHA and NHTSA.  Agencies and organizations are
   able to apply to receive the award each calendar year in order
   to help maintain their high usage rates.

  
1994 Child Passenger Safety 
Week Campaign                                        PENNSYLVANIA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Pennsylvania's Child Protection Act, requiring safety seats
   for infants and young children, went into effect in January
   1984.  In August 1993, a strengthened Child Passenger
   Protection Act became law in Pennsylvania.  The law now
   requires that all children under the age of four be restrained
   in federally-approved safety seats or booster seats when
   riding in a vehicle.  In Monroe County, the increased demand
   for safety seats  resulted in the Monroe County Highway Safety
   Program being contacted to help families financially unable to
   purchase child safety seats for their children.  Safety seat
   loaner programs, the three local branches of the Head Start
   Program and the prenatal clinic at the Pocono Medical Center
   also requested assistance from the Highway Safety Program. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   Child Passenger Safety Week provides an opportunity to raise
   public awareness regarding the importance and proper use of
   child safety seats.  The 1994 campaign focused on reinforcing
   the importance of the new child safety seat law.  The program
   also hoped to raise money to purchase safety seats.  The new
   seats would be used to replenish the loaner programs, and be
   donated to Head Start programs and prenatal clinics.  

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The 1994 Child Passenger Safety Week Campaign used several
   activities to educate county residents about proper use of
   child safety seats.  Midas Muffler, a local radio station and
   the Highway Safety Program collaborated to kick-off Child
   Passenger Safety Week with a live remote broadcast at the
   muffler shop.  Radio announcers encouraged Monroe County
   residents to stop by for birthday cake to celebrate the 10th
   anniversary of the original Child Protection Act.  Students
   Against Driving Drunk (SADD) chapter members, senior citizen
   organizations, scout troops, local businesses and individuals
   donated money for safety seats.  Contributors received
   promotional teddy bears and keychains.   

   Another kick-off took place at a Commissioners' meeting at a
   county courthouse.  A birthday cake with Pennsylvania's "Law
   of Love" teddy bear logo was presented to the Commissioners by
   Vince and Larry.  The media provided extensive coverage and
   the presiding Commissioner read a resolution proclaiming
   February 13-19 as Child Passenger Safety Week in Monroe
   County.

   The project also distributed promotional teddy bears and
   literature at a local shopping mall and through drive-up
   windows at several banks.  Law enforcement personnel
   distributed teddy bears throughout the county and gave safety
   seat presentations at daycare centers and nursery schools. 

RESULTS
   Thirteen police departments assisted with the campaign and 5
   banks distributed over 300 safety seat teddy bears.  Hundreds
   of people received teddy bears and other promotional
   information at the shopping mall.  More than 400 children,
   teachers and parents attended presentations at nursery schools
   and daycare centers during a single month.  The live remote
   broadcast enabled the safety seat message to reach thousands
   of people and resulted in the donation of 30 additional safety
   seats.  

Buckle Down Media Relations                             MINNESOTA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Annual observational studies of safety belt use in Minnesota
   conducted from 1988 through 1990 determined the rate to be
   constant at 45 percent.  According to Minnesota crash records,
   injury victims in the 11 to 19 age group use their safety
   belts least often.  In crash-related fatalities, the lowest
   rate of belt use was by 20 to 39 year olds.  People injured
   and killed in rural areas of the state used safety belts
   significantly less often than those in urban areas (38 to 54
   percent in rural areas versus 60 percent in urban areas).  

   Studies in the United States, Canada and Europe have
   consistently shown that law enforcement efforts, combined with
   strong media coverage of those efforts, can increase the
   natural plateau of 50 percent safety belt usage.  Therefore,
   in 1991 the Minnesota Department of Public Safety initiated
   Operation Buckle Down, an enforcement and media relations
   campaign.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The goal of the Buckle Down Media Relations project was to
   increase the safety belt use rate from 45 percent during the
   three years prior to 1991, to 70 percent in 1992, by providing
   a public and media relations campaign to assist the safety
   belt law enforcement effort.  This included the following
   objectives:     

    Develop materials and implement incentives to convince the
   law enforcement community of the benefits of belt
   enforcement  

    Encourage innovative media approaches to safety belt use
advocacy, rather than providing a specific, pre-set message 

    Convene a work group comprised of public and private sector
   organizations to develop, coordinate and sponsor events and
   promotions 

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Since less than half of Minnesota's motor vehicle occupants
   were using safety belts, the problem was not limited to a few
   segments of the population.  Specific groups targeted included
   the law enforcement community, part-time users, teens and
   young adults and the rural areas of the state.  Buckle Down
   Media Relations activities included:
     
    Specially designed radio promotions and public service
     announcements targeting youth.  These were sponsored by
     local radio stations and prizes were awarded to listeners
     demonstrating safety belt use

    Tailored materials and incentives encouraging law
     enforcement officers to write tickets and warnings were
     developed.  These included award ceremonies and
     commendations

    Special events to announce a Fourth of July enforcement
     period, including news conferences, radio promotions and
     contests, and ceremonies at local amusement parks, the
     State Capitol and the State Fair 
   
    Media kits containing a series of news releases, special
     articles and event invitations were distributed to the 500
     media outlets in the state

RESULTS
   A 1991 statewide observational study of safety belts revealed
   a use rate of 53 percent, up from 45 percent in 1990.  Although 
   this result did not approach the 70 percent goal, it 
   demonstrated that, for the first time, more Minnesotans were 
   using safety belts than were not. A 1992 study revealed that 
   the 53 percent rate had been maintained.  

    

Buckle Up Donora                                     PENNSYLVANIA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Using seat belts can significantly reduce motorists' risk of
   severe injury or death from involvement in automobile crashes. 
   Nonetheless the results of a baseline survey conducted in
   three locations in the Donora Borough of Pennsylvania revealed
   that only 17 percent of residents used safety belts. 
   Therefore, in 1992, the Donora Police Department developed a
   program to promote widespread use of seat belts and child
   safety seats.
    
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The Buckle Up Donora project sought to increase the rate of
   safety belt usage to 70 percent boroughwide and therefore
   reduce the rates of death and injuries resulting from traffic
   crashes in the Donora Borough.  The two major objectives were
   to:   

    Educate residents about the importance of using safety belts

    Increase enforcement of safety belt regulations
 
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The Donora Police Department began an intensive education and
   information dissemination program by putting up banners and
   distributing brochures and incentive items, such as "Buckle
   Up" pens and pencils, crash dummy shirts, ice scrapers and key
   chains.  Police officers also increased enforcement of safety
   restraint laws by issuing warnings to those violating the
   Child Passenger Safety law.

   During Child Passenger Safety Week, the Donora Police
   Department distributed 500 stuffed panda bears wearing shirts
   reading "Seat Belts are Depandable" and handed out "Buckle
   Baby Right" brochures to young children throughout the
   borough.  The department also developed an internal policy
   requiring all police officers to wear safety belts while
   riding or driving in either official or personal automobiles. 

RESULTS
   Followup surveys revealed that the use of safety restraints
   had increased to 35 percent by December 1992 and 61 percent by
   January 1993.  The Donora Police Department received a
   Governor's Highway Safety Award and the National Safety Belt
   Honor Roll Award for 90 percent plus.  
   

Child Passenger Safety Violator Course                      TEXAS

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   In urban Texas in 1991, fewer than 60 percent of children
   under age 4 were traveling protected by child safety seats or
   safety beltseven though state law mandates the use of child
   restraints (Texas A&M University System data).  A 1990 survey
   of rural areas carried out by the Rural Child Passenger Safety
   Education Project produced even more dismal findings of only
   41.9 percent usage.  In response to this low rate of safety
   seat use, a team of representatives from law enforcement,
   traffic safety, municipal courts and passenger safety
   education developed a traffic safety course to provide parents
   and caretakers with information about the proper use of child
   safety seats and the risks of nonusage.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The Child Passenger Violator Course seeks to reduce the number
   of preventable automobile-related deaths among young children
   by increasing compliance with Texas child safety regulations. 
   The course embraces six objectives:

    To develop a child passenger violator course for educating
     adults and child caretakers about the risks of incorrectly
     or not using child safety restraints

    To pilot test the course in two communities that were
     effectively enforcing the Texas child safety restraint law
   
    To coordinate efforts among district traffic safety
     specialists, law enforcers, municipal court judges and
     clerks, and course instructors

    To train instructors as needed

    To evaluate course content and make revisions as needed

    To develop a marketing plan for the course

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The development of the course was coordinated by Texas A&M
   University, Agricultural Extension Service through a 402-
   funded grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.  The
   first course was introduced in February 1993 to municipal
   court personnel in Fort Worth, Texas.  Since then, the Texas
   Municipal Court Training Center has been actively promoting
   the course through its mandatory continuing education
   seminars.  During 1993, court restrictions were lifted to
   allow all municipal courts to offer the course (CPVC) as a
   reasonable condition of deferred adjudication when drivers
   receive a citation for not having a child under age four
   restrained in a motor vehicle.

   Agents from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service will
   continue to market the course.  They will also implement
   occupant protection programs in 24 communities during the 1994
   fiscal year.  Followup surveys will be conducted at the
   completion of these programs to gauge changes in the rates of
   compliance with child safety laws.
  
RESULTS
   Since June 1992, when the course was first tested, overall
   rates of safety seat use increased in both pilot sites.  In
   1993 the Municipal Court in Bryan, Texas offered the course on
   a monthly basis. Of the 82 violators who completed the course
   in 1993, not one was a repeat offender.   
   

 Child Restraint Infraction Deterrence
 Sites (CIDS)                                     WASHINGTON, DC 

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
   death for children under age 6.  Recent studies indicate that
   proper use of child restraint seats and safety belts can
   reduce the number of automobile-related fatalities among young
   children by 90 percent and can lower the rate of injury by 67
   percent. 

   Nonetheless, results of the District of Columbia's 1992 safety
   belt survey indicate a usage rate of only 59 percent.  A 1990
   child safety seat survey revealed a utilization rate of 44
   percent.  In order to promote increased awareness of and
   compliance with the District's mandatory safety belt law and
   the DC Child Restraint Act, the Metropolitan Police developed
   a simple but effective tacticthe Child Restraint Infraction
   Deterrence Site (CIDS, pronounced KIDS). 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The DC Metropolitan Police Department seeks to increase the
   usage of seat belts and child safety seats through aggressive
   enforcement of its occupant protection laws.  By District
   safety belt law, however, enforcement can occur only as a
   secondary action after a car has been stopped for another
   offense.  The Child Restraint Act is a primary violation for
   which operators receive a $55 fine and two points on their
   driving records.

   The CIDS program attempts to focus public attention on the
   problem of low compliance with safety seat laws and provide
   public information about the District's safety seat loaner
   program.
    
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The CIDS program is similar in some ways to a sobriety
   checkpoint program.  A deterrence site is set up to decrease
   the incidence of children being transported in motor vehicles
   without the use of seat belts.  Unlike a sobriety checkpoint,
   however, only cars with observed violations are stopped, and the 
   normal flow of traffic is not impeded.

   CIDS sites are selected based on their proximity to schools,
   shopping areas or daycare providers.  They are generally
   located on streets where the speed limit does not exceed 30
   mph and where police have an unobstructed view for at least
   one block from the site.  Cones are set up for lane management
   and to alert motorists that officers are on the road.

   The preferred time for CIDS enforcement is from 10:00 am to
   1:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  This period provides the
   greatest opportunity for media exposure, does not impact the
   rush hour, ensures greater visibility and safety for officers,
   and is the most likely time when young children will be
   passengers in motor vehicles.  Violators are stopped, issued
   citations, and, if personnel permits, given literature about
   safety seats. The CIDS program also provides a focused effort
   aimed at bringing attention to the District of Columbia
   Department of Public Works' Project Safe Child, a public
   information and child restraint loaner program.  
    
RESULTS
   In 1993, the DC Metropolitan Police Department conducted 14
   CIDS.  A total of 11,245 vehicles passed through the sites and
   1,322 notices of infraction were issued; 236 were child
   restraint violations, 591 were seat belt violations, and 495
   were for other traffic safety violations.  There were 18
   traffic arrests (e.g., no permit, DUI).  

   During Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week and "Buckle Up
   America! Week," television news covered seven of the 14 CIDS
   days and radio news covered both weeks. 

Child Safety Seat Program                                  OREGON

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   In a 1992 statewide survey the Oregon Department of
   Transportation determined that only 31 percent of children
   under one year of age were properly restrained in child safety
   seats.  Parental confusion with the numerous and intricate
   seat designs, coupled with the large array of vehicle safety
   belt systems present in automobiles, were cited as factors
   contributing to improper child restraint.  The survey also
   indicated a statewide safety belt use rate of 72.2 percent,
   with significantly lower rates recorded in rural areas and
   among youth.   Further examination revealed that even when
   safety belts were worn, they were often used incorrectly by
   adults and older children, through either a lack of
   information, or in an effort to skirt the law.   

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The primary goal of the Child Safety Seat project is to
   increase the percentage of correct use of child safety seats
   for children under age one from the current 31 percent to 50
   percent by September 1994.  The Oregon Department of
   Transportation's Traffic Safety Section (TSS) has provided
   funding for a child safety seat specialist to assist in
   accomplishing these objectives:    

    Furnish training and technical assistance to medical
     providers who will then provide safety seat education to
     parents or parents-to-be  

    Provide training and technical assistance on correct use of
     child safety seats to law enforcement personnel in
     cooperation with the Law Enforcement Spokesperson  

    Provide a point-of-contact to child safety seat loan program
     personnel or advocates to ensure that proper seat use is
     taught to clients

    Supply training assistance for TSS-sponsored child safety
   seat workshops 

    Conduct child safety seat inspection clinics along with
   locally-trained advocates
   
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Specific activities undertaken by the child safety seat
   specialist include:
     
    Providing a state-wide toll free telephone line for use by
     the general public to access information on correct use of
     seats, compatibility of seats and vehicle safety belt
     systems and information on manufacturer recalls 

    Maintaining contacts with health care providers and law
     enforcement personnel to provide technical assistance,
     training, information and materials

    Assisting loan program personnel and other advocates in the
     planning and implementation of child safety seat workshops
     and inspection clinics to ensure proper techniques are
     taught to safety seat clients

    Furnishing a bimonthly newsletter to child safety seat
     advocates on new technology, current issues or problems and
     specific program results
 
    Networking with other organizations involved in child
     safety seat issues to keep abreast of trends and activities
     and to collaborate on mutual goals

RESULTS
   Oregon's observational use survey conducted during the summer
   of 1994 showed a significant improvement in the under age one
   category, with 59 percent correctly restrained.  During FY
   1994 the Child Safety Seat Resource Center provided 26
   training sessions to health care providers, law enforcement
   personnel and other organizations including Teen Parent
   Programs and Mom's Clubs.  Information or assistance was
   provided to over 500 individuals, five inspection clinics were
   held, and a newsletter was written and distributed every other
   month to individuals and groups interested in child passenger
   safety.  The Resource Center collaborates with local traffic
   safety organizations to promote their involvement in child
   passenger safety issues. 

Child Safety Seat Roadblocks                              GEORGIA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Public health is typically a partnership between emergency
   staff, pediatricians, family practitioners and hospital
   personnel, while law enforcement partnerships range from
   sheriff's offices to police departments and the state highway
   patrol.  The Georgia Department of Human Resources identified
   a need to combine the efforts of these two groups to conduct a
   program aimed at increasing child safety seat usage. 
   
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The goal of the Child Safety Seat Roadblocks program was to
   reduce motor vehicle-related injuries to children through
   collaboration of caregivers throughout the state.  The program
   sought to pool the resources of the various groups involved in
   the issue to present educational, incentive and enforcement
   programs.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Local coalitions were formed throughout Georgia.  By 1990, the
   State Office for SAFE KIDS was organized; by 1994, 32
   community coalitions involving local police departments had
   been formed.

   The coalitions, in collaboration with law enforcement
   personnel, conduct education/media/enforcement campaigns three 
   times during each year.  The teams set up roadblocks, where 
   children who are safely placed in a child safety seat receive a 
   teddy bear or other incentive prize.  Parents who are not safely
   transporting their children may receive a citation.  Health
   Department staff assist law enforcement officers by checking
   safety seats for misuse, providing educational materials to
   parents, and instructing motorists on the correct use of child
   safety seats.

   The roadblocks have received extensive media attention,
   including total saturation of the noon day news in Atlanta,
   traffic watch broadcasts at roadblocks, and pictures in the
   weekly newspaper of a happy child receiving a teddy bear from
   a friendly police officer. 

RESULTS
   In 1993, local and state law enforcement officers, SAFE KIDS
   coalitions and district health department staff jointly
   conducted 73 roadblocks with over 6,000 car checks combined
   with 90 education/media efforts.  The campaigns continue to
   expand into new areas across the state.  Sixty roadblocks were
   conducted in 1994.

   The program has raised over $100,000 in private donations and
   local health department state funding.  These funds cover
   expenses for participation in the Operation Baby Buckle
   Program, a statewide effort to encourage use of child safety
   seats.  The new alliance between public health and enforcement
   agencies continues to grow through development of programs
   similar to the Child Safety Seat Roadblocks effort.

   Georgia's success demonstrates the benefits of such
   partnerships.  Although each of these events is of value in
   increasing the use of occupant protection devices, their
   combined effect is greater than the sum of each part.  Each
   time a successful roadblock or occupant safety fair is
   conducted, the coalitions grow stronger.  
 

Family Passenger Safety Program                             TEXAS

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   A study of safety restraint use in 16 rural towns in Texas in
   1992 revealed that only 41 percent of all occupants used seat
   belts.  Passenger vehicle occupants had a 46.1 percent usage
   rate and pickup truck occupants had a 31.4 percent usage rate. 
   A 1991 observational study of child safety seat usage rates
   for children from birth to age four in 14 urban areas revealed
   that only 54.1 percent of children were properly restrained. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The primary goal of the Family Passenger Safety Program is to
   increase safety restraint use, particularly among children. 
   The program relies on the cooperation of local citizens in
   enforcing traffic safety laws, educating communities on
   traffic safety issues and supporting traffic safety
   countermeasures.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The Family Passenger Safety Program utilizes the networking
   services of Texas' Cooperative Extension Service to
   communicate research-based information to the citizens of
   Texas through educational programs, informational services and
   training and development activities.  County-based
   educators/trainers, as well as district and campus-based
   specialists, offer training and programs in agriculture and
   natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth
   development, community economic development and county
   government.

   The following are examples of activities implemented through
   the Family Passenger Safety Program:

    Senior Series Trainingstaff work with older adults at
     senior centers to discuss the issues related to aging and
     driving

       Family Development Trainingparents are instructed in how
        to take responsibility for safely transporting young
        children

       The Texas 4-H After School Curriculum Manuala week long
        after school program on safety belt activities for
        children in grades K through 4

       The Child Passenger Violator Course Kitoffers violators
        an educational child safety seat course in lieu of fines

       Rural Community Occupant Protection and Motorcycle
        Incentive Project conducted in conjunction with a Peer-
        to-Peer project in 10 counties to encourage enforcement
        of safety restraint laws

RESULTS
   Initial feedback on the Family Passenger Safety Program has
   been positive.  One of the strengths of the cooperative
   extension service is that it uses interdisciplinary
   initiatives to tackle a variety of issues.  Pre- and post-
   surveys are conducted in selected communities that participate
   in the traffic safety initiatives.  Qualitative results of
   these surveys are not yet available.
   

Getting You There Safely Seat Belt 
Use Campaign                                               NEVADA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Occupant protection remains one of the highest priority
   concerns of the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.  In 1991 and
   1992, the statewide safety belt use rate was 63 percent. 
   During the period of 1991 through 1993, 75 percent of vehicle
   occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing safety
   restraints.  Increasing the safety belt use rate would
   significantly lower the percentage of vehicle occupants killed
   in these crashes.
                                                                  
                                         GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The overall goal of the Getting You There Safely Seat Belt Use
   Campaign was to decrease the fatality and injury rate among
   traffic crash victims.  The program sought to achieve this
   goal by increasing the safety belt usage rate to 75 percent.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Currently, Nevada does not have a primary seat belt law.  This
   program relied, therefore, upon a public awareness campaign
   and a series of cooperative agreements between agencies.  The
   campaign strategy consisted of two major components.  First, a
   public relations firm was hired to assist with the following:

    Developing public service announcements

    Creating a campaign logo

    Arranging press conferences

    Coordinating the efforts of participating law enforcement
     agencies

   Posters and billboards bearing the new logo and safety belt
   messages were placed throughout the community. The second component 
   included mini grants to law enforcement agencies to establish 
   safety belt checkpoints where informational materials could be 
   distributed to the general public.
   
RESULTS
   In the 1993 campaign, seven law enforcement agencies
   participated in the program. As a result, Nevada experienced a
   seven percent increase statewide in safety belt use (70
   percent in 1993 compared with 63 in 1992).  This enabled the
   state to receive further grant funds.  Twelve law enforcement
   agencies are currently participating in the 1994 campaign.

   During 1993, there was one cooperative effort between two law
   enforcement agencies; in 1994, two cooperative efforts have
   been established among five law enforcement agencies.  Law
   enforcement staff have demonstrated increasing enthusiasm and
   support for this project.

   

                            
   
New Orleans Traffic Court, Occupant Restraint
and Motorcycle Helmet Compliance Program                LOUISIANA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Drivers between the ages of 16 and 21 are at a significantly
   greater risk of being involved in a traffic crash than older
   segments of the driving population.  Inexperience at driving
   and a tendency for risk-taking behavior contribute to placing
   young drivers in jeopardy.  The problem is compounded by a
   lack of understanding regarding the importance of occupant
   protection systems, such as safety belts and motorcycle
   helmets.  The result is a low percentage of occupant
   protection system usage among young people.  In response to
   this problem, the New Orleans Traffic Court identified a need
   to investigate young people's attitudes about wearing safety
   belts or motorcycle helmets when traveling local roadways.
   
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The primary goal of the Occupant Restraint and Motorcycle
   Helmet Compliance Program is to create effective
   countermeasures aimed at keeping young drivers safe.  The New
   Orleans Traffic Court sought to hire a professional team of
   experts to conduct a study to help program planners better
   understand the attitudes and beliefs of young people that
   might contribute to safety belt and motorcycle helmet use and
   non-use.  The study would emphasize young male attitudes and
   beliefs because state data indicated a three times greater
   risk for young males as compared to young females.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The New Orleans Traffic Court contracted with the Louisiana
   Urban Technical Assistance Center to design and conduct a
   statistically valid survey to measure the attitudes and
   influences related to young males and occupant protection. 
   The Louisiana Urban Technical Assistance Center conducted a
   series of three studies.  They included:  

    A safety belt observational survey

    A safety belt and motorcycle helmet use written survey

    Focus group discussions using a cross section of male
     students from six schools within the greater New Orleans
     metropolitan area.
  
   These three studies revealed that a comprehensive safety belt
   program emphasizing parental involvement in its educational
   and law enforcement components would increase safety belt and
   motorcycle helmet use among young males between the ages of 13
   and 18.
   
RESULTS
   Results of the surveys were used to develop specific
   strategies to reach young males and convince them of the
   importance of occupant protection devices.  Foremost among
   these are:  the design of comprehensive occupant protection
   programs, programs targeting African-American and Hispanic
   youth; the use of student-targeted media; and the promotion of
   legislative change with a primary-enforced safety belt law.

Red, White and Blue Campaign                            LOUISIANA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Although motorists often hear that law enforcement will be
   increased during such high-risk periods as holiday seasons and
   graduation months, there is rarely evidence of a crackdown. 
   In many instances, enforcement agencies, especially at the
   local level, are constrained by lack of funding to carry out
   such plans.

   For the past two summers in Louisiana, the State Highway
Safety Commission has provided funding to local law enforcement 
agencies to undertake a coordinated, concentrated program of 
traffic law enforcement. The Red, White and Blue Campaign is       
part of Louisiana's summertime occupant protection enforcement effort 
and is designed to impact motorists traveling during the Fourth
of July weekend.  

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The Red, White and Blue Campaign seeks to reduce the number of
   automobile-related injuries and deaths that occur during the
   summer holidays, particularly the Fourth of July weekend, by
   increasing the enforcement of occupant protection laws and by
   coordinating safe driving public relations and promotional
   activities.

   The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) contracted with
   law enforcement agencies statewide whose jurisdictions
   included the target areas. These law enforcement agencies
   participated under individual agreements with the LHSC through
   a matching grant program that required grantees to meet an
   overall program match of 25 percent. 

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Approximately 52 State, parish and local law enforcement
   agencies participated in the Red, White and Blue Campaign
   during the Fourth of July weekend in 1993. A targeted public
   information campaign featuring print and broadcast public
   service announcements, video news releases, traditional press 
   packet distribution and local high visibility promotional 
   activities accompanied the enforcement program.

   An additional, innovative component of the effort was a
   motorist incentive program sponsored by the McDonald's
   Corporation.  Motorists choosing to buckle up were awarded a
   Click-it Ticket by law enforcement officers redeemable for
   merchandise at participating McDonald's restaurants. Prior to
   the Fourth of July weekend, a public service announcement
   featuring Vince and Larry with Ronald McDonald advertised the
   reward program.     

RESULTS
   A statewide survey of motorists conducted after the 1993 Red,
   White and Blue Campaign found that the rate of seat belt use
   in five of the eight regions surveyed reached an all-time
   high.  An average increase of 5 points over previous highs
   were noted. Also during the 1993 campaign, law enforcement
   officers worked 6,474 hours, issued 5,929 speeding citations
   and 493 occupant protection citations, and made 79 arrests of
   motorists driving while intoxicated.   
   

Rural Community Occupant Protection and
Motorcycle Incentive Project                                TEXAS

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Observational studies conducted in 1992 in 16 rural Texas
   communities revealed a 46.1 percent safety belt usage rate for
   passenger car occupants and a 31.4 percent usage rate for
   pick-up truck occupants.  Many are not buckling up in their
   local communities because they do not perceive that they are
   at risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. 
   Some rural Texans report that even though they are aware that
   safety belt use is required by law, they do not buckle up
   because either they do not accept the law or the law is not
   strictly enforced in their community.  
   
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The goal of the Rural Community Occupant Protection and
   Motorcycle Incentive Project is to increase use of occupant
   protection apparatus (safety belts, child safety seats and
   helmets), through education, incentives and police
   enforcement.  The program targeted a minimum of 10 rural
   communities in Texas.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Ten counties in western Texas were selected for the
   education/training and incentive project.  Activities were
   coordinated with a peer-to-peer project administered by the
   Texas Department of Public Safety.  Preliminary observational
   studies were then conducted in one town in each of the 10
   counties.

   County Extension Agents, law enforcement officers, local EMS
   personnel, senior groups, youth groups and others attended a
   training session in Odessa, Texas.  The training served as the
   kick-off of the summer project.  Personnel from the Texas
   Agricultural Extension Service, Texas Department of Public
   Safety and Texas Department of Transportation conducted the
   training.  

   Each county received several occupant protection videos and a
   shipment of educational materials with specific packets targeting 
   various age groups. After signing a buckle up pledge or participating 
   in an educational activity, community
   members received various traffic safety incentive items.  Each
   county also recruited a youth group to plan and conduct a
   "Youth Safety Day" to address local needs.  For example, the
   Dawson County youth group participated in a local health fair
   with a "Safe and Sober" exhibit reminding people to buckle
   safety belts and wear motorcycle helmets.  Several of the
   communities implemented occupant protection activities through
   their senior citizen centers.

   Television stations in the cities of Odessa and Midland aired
   occupant protection-related public service announcements
   during the course of the project.

RESULTS
   Followup observational surveys indicate that 7 out of 10 rural
   Texas counties achieved an increase in safety belt usage rate. 
   Twenty thousand promotional and educational items were
   distributed through safety awareness projects.  Those who
   received the items signed safety belt pledges promising to
   uphold state occupant restraint laws.  The project
   successfully conveyed its occupant protection message, and
   many counties are continuing their countermeasure programs. 

Stratford Community Traffic Safety Program            CONNECTICUT

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Stratford Academy has a kindergarten through sixth grade
   population of approximately 800 students.  Prompted by safety
   concerns, school officials conducted an observational survey
   of safety belt use in September 1991, looking to see whether
   parents and children were wearing seat belts as they arrived
   and left the school premises.  Results indicated that the
   safety belt usage rate at the school was approximately 48
   percent. 

   To encourage increased compliance with Connecticut's occupant
   restraint laws, Academy officials teamed with the Stratford
   Community Traffic Safety Program to develop an innovative
   educational initiative.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The Stratford Traffic Safety Program operates a multifaceted,
   school-based program to raise the level of safety belt usage
   among kindergarteners through sixth-graders.  The program was
   developed from the combined efforts of several community-based
   groups,  including the Stratford Academy PTA, State and local
   police, Registry of Motor Vehicle officials and local business
   executives.                                                    
                                                       
   The plan was to produce a program that could also be used in
   surrounding communities. This goal was achieved by creating a
   modular format.  Each module could be delivered separately
   without compromising the project and its overall objectives.  
   

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   Some specific activities undertaken by the program were as
   follows:
   
    Implementation of a public information and education
   campaign entitled, 

    A school assembly kickoff program with assistance from
     Vince and Larry, and Buckle Bear

    Buckle up pledges 

    Essay and poster contests on safety belt use

    Egg convincer project geared for science classes that
     taught students the physical dynamics of a crash

    A Halloween party featuring a "Fastest Buckle Up" Contest
     with each participant receiving a certificate that noted
     their "buckle up" time

    An adult dance sponsored by the Academy PTA with a "Buckle
     Down & Boogie" theme

    Child safety seat and seat belt demonstrations for parents
     and students 

    Outreach to preschool daycare centers in the community

RESULTS
   The Traffic Safety Program has been carried out in Stratford
   and in the town's  surrounding communities.  Classes were held
   in both public and parochial schools, with presentations
   concentrating on safety belt use.  The program features the
   "egg convincer" to address the problem of safety belt nonuse. 
   In preschool sessions, the egg convincer is used along with
   hands-on involvement with child passenger safety seats.  

   These program modules can be used with high school and adult
   audiences, as well as with young children.  Collaborative efforts
   continue in Stratford among the police, the fire department, the 
   Occupant Protection Use and Enforcement team, business volunteers 
   to inform the public on safety belt usage.  These strong 
   educational and enforcement efforts can be credited fora 13 percent 
   decrease in  automobile-related injuries in Stratford between 
   1990 and 1993.
    

Workplace Safety Belt Use Program                        OKLAHOMA

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
   Motor vehicle crashes are responsible for 40 percent of on-
   the-job deaths among the nation's workers. To employers, these
   crashes represent the number one cause of both lost work time
   and on-the-job fatalities.  Each motor vehicle-related injury
   costs the employer thousands of dollars in direct payments for
   medical care, property damage and when a fatality results,
   permanent loss of an employee.  These costs are paid
   regardless of whether the crash occurs on or off the job.  
   Many of the injuries and fatalities resulting from motor
   vehicle crashes could be avoided with the use of safety belts.
                                                                  
                                         GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
   The goal of the Workplace Safety Belt Use project was to
   increase safety belt use among Oklahoma's work force by
   targeting 18 companies to obtain the "70% Plus Award."  The
   award is granted when at least 70 percent of a company's
   employees use safety belts.  It was anticipated that employers
   would willingly participate since increased safety use has
   been shown to decrease the number of fatalities and lessen the
   severity of injuries sustained from most vehicle crashes. 
   This reduces the medical and property damage costs along with
   lost productivity. 

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
   The Oklahoma Department of Labor contacted employers by mail,
   phone and by personal visits.  A variety of methods were
   employed to relay the importance of safety belt usage.  These
   included:

    Distributing brochures and pamphlets

    Showing educational videos

    Providing promotional items, such as coffee mugs

   Companies that successfully achieved safety belt usage rates
   of 70 percent or more were awarded the "70% Plus Award."  The
   awards were bestowed at a formal presentation where
   photographs were taken and then distributed to each company.

RESULTS
   Employers were very receptive to promoting seat belt safety
   among their employees.  The 1992 belt survey, conducted by the
   University of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office,
   showed seat belt use to be 48.8 percent, an increase of 8.4
   percent over the 1991 results.  Oklahoma's commitment to safe
   driving habits continues to grow.  In 1993, more than 18,000
   Oklahoma employees representing 23 organizations accepted the
   seat belt challenge and were presented with the "70% Plus
   Award" for their accomplishments.