Crashes also rank seventh in the number of hospital discharges and length of hospital stay.
The goal of the Nebraska Safe Communities project, developed in 1999, is to reduce unintentional injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes throughout the state. In January 1999, an additional five Safe Communities teams were formed, each team representing a single county and bringing its own unique safety needs to the program. A total of 21 Safe Communities teams, comprised of local law enforcement offices, fire departments, divisions of roads, hospitals, community service agencies, probation offices, educational service units and local health departments, developed priorities and planned projects of local interest. Throughout the program development phase, the teams met quarterly by teleconference, and attended a statewide update meeting in September 1999. One team used the Teddy Bear Blockade program to address proper use of child safety seats, and many teams conducted child safety seat checkup events.