GEORGIA
African American Highway Safety Summit

 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Outstanding collaborative effort
High media visibility
  Occupant Protection
Diversity
       
TYPE OF JURISDICTION    
  State    
       
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  African Americans   7,055,336


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Although significant progress has been made since 1996, seat belt use among African Americans remains lower than the overall seat belt use rate nationwide. In 1996 the seat belt use rate for African Americans was 51.2 percent, while the national average was 69 percent. In 1998, seat belt use among African Americans rose to 65.3 percent, while the national average increased to 70 percent. This important increase for black Americans is due in part to a variety of partnerships established between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and organizations in the African American community. These include the NAACP, National Urban League, National Black Nurses Association, National Council of Negro Women, Congress of National Black Churches and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. NHTSA representatives have provided Buckle Up America presentations at national conferences for each of these organizations.

Since the passage of a primary seat belt law in Georgia, which allows law enforcement officers to stop and give unbelted drivers a citation, efforts to promote seat belt use among African Americans are directed toward public awareness and education initiatives.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to increase seat belt use among African Americans, the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety hosted an African American Highway Safety Summit. The summit was held on October 29, 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Historical Underground Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. This important event was the first of its kind, and its goal was to address the issue of the disproportionate number of African Americans killed and injured in motor vehicle crashes on Georgia's highways. Specific objectives of the summit included:

  • Providing a national perspective on the issue of low seat belt use among African Americans
  • Promoting the national seat belt use goals of the Buckle Up America! campaign
  • Addressing the alarming consequences of low seat belt use for young African American males


STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
More than 175 local and statewide community leaders participated in the African American Highway Safety Summit. These included legislators, law enforcement agencies, representatives of the medical community, insurance professionals, judges and local and state elected officials. Members of the media including television, radio and newspapers provided full coverage of the event. A national insurance company expressed support for the summit by providing lunch for attendees.

A highlight of the summit was a presentation by Captain DUI and his Honor Squad. This Georgia police officer was involved in a motor vehicle crash in which he and his family were hit by a man driving under the influence of alcohol. Although the crash left the officer permanently disfigured, his life was saved because he wore a seat belt.


RESULTS
As a result of the African American Highway Safety Summit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed, in which the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety committed to maintaining contact with all leaders and organizations charged with specific tasks for controlling driving behaviors statewide. The summit has become a model for other states to use to address the issue of low seat belt use by African Americans, particularly young African American males. Effective results of the summit include:

  • Summit leaders reflected the faces of the target population, African Americans
  • Public/private partnerships were formed during the summit, between businesses and state and local government agencies. This is a prime component of a successful community initiative targeting higher seat belt use
  • The strong media presence during the summit underscored the importance of the issue, and illustrated the magnitude of the concerned parties
  • An action plan was developed, along with a follow-up meeting to discuss strategies for carrying out the plan
 

FUNDING
  Section 402: $10,160
CONTACT  
 

Petrina Howard
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
1 Park Tower
34 Peachtree Street, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 656-6996


NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

FALL 1999