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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
National data indicate
that minority populations in the United States are at greater risk for
motor vehicle crash-related deaths and injuries than the population
as a whole. Recent surveys conducted nationwide indicate that approximately
42 percent of minority children are improperly placed in rear facing
infant seats in the front seat of motor vehicles with passenger-side
air bags, as compared with 15 percent of white children. This increases
minority children's risk of air bag-related injuries. Education and
awareness programs targeting the general population are not effective
for these diverse groups, because of language, cultural, economic and
other barriers. Targeted messages and alternate delivery systems must
be used effectively in order to influence these high risk populations.
Successful programs also require establishing partnerships with organizations
representing the targeted populations, to positively influence their
constituencies.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration's (NHTSA) ten Regional Offices have committed
their efforts in 1999 to reaching out to diverse populations throughout
the United States, to promote the Buckle Up America campaign.
The primary goal of NHTSA's programs targeting diverse populations is
to address the significant health issue of the non- use or misuse of
safety belts among minority groups. Objectives include:
- Targeting safety messages
and programs to diverse populations, particularly African Americans,
Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders
- Reducing deaths and injuries
resulting from traffic crashes among diverse populations
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Specific NHTSA Regional Office activities promoting
diversity through the Buckle Up America campaign include:
- Region 1—Together with the Boston's Children's
Hospital Network, the Region 1 Office has translated NHTSA's Child
Transportation Safety Tips into Vietnamese, French, Haitian-Creole,
Portuguese, Russian and Chinese-Cantonese
- Region 2—The Region 2 Office partnered with the
New York State Police to conduct a diversity forum
- Region 3—The Region 3 office developed materials
in Spanish to assist Washington, DC Hispanics in understanding a new
primary seat belt law
- Region 4—Region 4 staff presented research findings
to Georgia state highway safety offices from the publication Driving
While Black
- Region 5—Region 5 is working with Progressive
Insurance to support the Illinois Hispanic Safe Communities Project
- Region 6—The Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of
Fort Peck, Montana worked with Region 6 to create a Safe Communities
initiative, increasing seat belt use from 10 to 40 percent
- Region 7—Region 7 staff are working with the
Driving Un-paired program in Grand Island, Nebraska to address
the over-representation of Hispanics in DUI arrests
- Region 8—Region 8 has joined with a minority-owned
company to develop culturally- relevant program materials
- Region 9—Region 9 supports the El Protector Program
in Nevada and California. This is an Hispanic public education initiative
using Hispanic police officers as representatives for the Hispanic
community
- Region 10—Region 10 personnel work with the Bureau
of Indian Affairs in Portland, Oregon, producing bilingual traffic
safety materials promoting correct occupant protection through the
Child Resource Center and the public health community
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