PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Sutter County, California has experienced rapid population growth in the past decade. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's population increased 12 percent, resulting in problems in traffic and pedestrian safety. During 1995, there were a total of 573 fatal and injury motor vehicle crashes, 58 of which were alcohol-related. Twenty five of these crashes involved pedestrians.

Seat belt use surveys conducted in Sutter County in 1996 indicated an average compliance rate of 74 percent. More than 2,000 citations were written in 1996 for non-compliance with seat belt and child safety seat laws. Surveys also indicated that only 53 percent of children under age 17 wore a helmet while riding a bicycle. Many of these violators were from low- income families that could not afford proper equipment, or from families that did not understand the laws due to language barriers.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To address the wide range of traffic safety issues adversely affecting its community, the Sutter County Health Department developed the Traffic Safety Education Project in 1997. The primary goals of the program were to reduce fatal and injury traffic crashes and increase compliance with occupant protection and bicycle helmet laws. Major objectives of the project included:

• Establishing a traffic safety advisory board to explore innovative solutions to existing traffic safety problems
• Conducting educational traffic safety presentations at schools, health clinics, day care centers, traffic fairs and special events throughout the county
• Offering classes to low-income residents on the proper use of bicycle helmets and child safety seats, and provide these items without cost to qualified families
• Conducting bicycle rodeos and bicycle safety workshops at schools and community events, distributing helmets, promotional and incentive items to encourage participation
• Presenting radio, newspaper and television media campaigns each year that address relevant traffic safety issues

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Sutter County Health Department implemented the Traffic Safety Education Project over a period of two years. A variety of educational and promotional materials were developed and distributed at numerous school and community events. These included posters, brochures, stickers, badges, press kits, wrist bands, pledges, bumper stickers, t-shirts and key rings. The health department initiated Get Baby Buckled, a program providing low-income families with child safety seats and training in their use. Bicycle safety workshops and rodeos were presented to county students, allowing youth hands-on training in bicycle and pedestrian safety, and providing them with free helmets. Healthy Choices, an innovative health education program was developed by the Sutter County Health Department to provide traffic safety education to elementary schools students. The Every 15 Minutes program, focusing on impaired driving, was presented to 2,800 county high school students.

RESULTS
The Traffic Safety Education Project distributed 376 child safety seats and 548 bicycle helmets to Sutter County residents in 1997 and 1998. Classroom presentations reached more than 4,000 students. The Get Baby Buckled program conducted 12 child safety seat check- ups, impacting 300 families. Through its participation with the traffic safety advisory board, the program established numerous working relationships with community agencies. Specific project results include the following:

• Child safety seat use in Sutter County increased 17 percent (from 63 percent in 1996 to 80 percent in 1998, and seat belt use increased by 20 percent (from 57 percent in 1996, to 77 percent in 1998)
• Bicycle helmet use among children under age 15 increased 34 percent (from 53 percent in 1996, to 87 percent in 1998), and bicycle crash fatalities decreased from 45 to 35
• Alcohol-involved fatal and injury crashes decreased from 58 in 1996, to 45 in 1998

SUMMER 1999