"Join the Winning Team" Seatbelt Promotion

Project Characteristics Program Areas Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population Outstanding collaborative effort Occupant Protection Safe Communities Targeted Audience Jurisdiction Youthful Drivers Statewide

Goals

• Increase seat belt use among students in kindergarten through grade 12
• Develop partnerships between South Dakota Safe Communities coalitions and schools throughout the state
• Enlist school and community support to provide traffic safety educational programs to an additional 25 communities statewide, including 8 on the Indian Reservation

Strategies

The Join A Winning Team Seat Belt Promotion was developed through a partnership between the South Dakota Highway Safety Office and local Safe Communities coalitions. Prior to program implementation, an observational survey was conducted, recording seat belt use by drivers and passengers arriving at schools in the pilot communities. Using this information, seat belt use rates were established for all participating schools. Enforcement and community service agencies provided topical presentations to students on a quarterly basis. Activities undertaken in participating schools included:

• Developing a school-specific banner containing a project slogan and school mascot or logo, to be displayed at school athletic events, concerts and parades
• Creating a Hero Program to recognize students who actively participate in injury prevention activities, using celebrity athletes as role models, and including student safety pledges
• Encouraging neighboring schools to establish inter-school competitions to help increase seat belt use among students, faculty and community members
• Providing ,500 mini-grants from the South Dakota Department of Health to participating communities, to help cover banner production and program expenses

Results

• The South Dakota Department of Health and Safe Communities coalitions are actively enlisting additional communities statewide to participate in the Join A Winning Team Seat Belt Promotion during the current school year. Follow-up seat belt use surveys will be conducted in participating communities during the school semester break, and prior to the end of the school year. Using these results, program effectiveness will be evaluated.