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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The seat belt use rate
in Kansas for 1996 was 57 percent, well below the national average of
69 percent. According to data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System
(FARS), a total of 427 people were killed in traffic crashes statewide
in 1996, and 321 were not wearing safety belts. It is estimated than
255 additional lives would have been saved if they had used occupant
restraint. Kansas currently has a secondary seat belt law in effect,
which does not allow law enforcement officers to stop and ticket motorists
solely for non-use of seat belts. The Kansas Department of Transportation
(KDOT) sought to promote the Buckle Up America campaign, to help
increase seat belt use among residents of the state.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In 1999, KDOT's Bureau
of Traffic Safety developed the Kansas Pledge of Commitment Program
to address the low rate of safety restraint use among Kansans. The primary
goal of the program is to increase the number of law enforcement agencies
and government leaders that are actively promoting safety belt and child
safety seat use statewide. To meet this goal, the following objectives
were identified:
- Encourage aggressive enforcement
of the state's existing occupant protection laws
- Hire a law enforcement
liaison to act as an intermediary between the state and law enforcement
and government leaders
- Actively promote NHTSA's
Buckle Up America campaign, using its partnership- forming approach
to boost public awareness of the importance of seat belt and child
seat use
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Kansas law enforcement liaison routinely
meets with police agencies and government leaders across the state,
to help influence them to join forces with local city and county officials
to demonstrate a strong commitment to safety belt education and enforcement
activities. The liaison encourages law enforcement and government entities
to take the lead in promoting the Pledge of Commitment Program in their
jurisdictions. Activities associated with the pledge program include:
- Conducting pre- and post-seat belt use rate surveys
in participating cities and counties
- Developing an on-the-job seat belt use policy
for government and law enforcement employees
- Escalating enforcement of current occupant protection
laws, so that public awareness of risk is increased
- Encouraging key government and community leaders
to sign a Certificate of Commitment
Community leaders who sign the Certificate of Commitment
recognize that safety belts and child safety seats are the most effective
way to reduce fatalities and serious injuries resulting from motor vehicle
crashes. They pledge to promote and enforce the use of occupant restraint
devices in their communities, acknowledging that non-use is unacceptable.
As each certificate is presented for signing, television,
radio and print media are alerted, and an event is scheduled. This event
highlights the signing by a variety of individuals, including the mayor,
city manager, city prosecutor, chief of police, municipal judge, Kansas
Bureau of Traffic Safety, Kansas Safety Belt Education Office and the
Kansas Law Enforcement Liaison. A press release is then issued to increase
community awareness of the commitment to the program and the increased
enforcement efforts that follow.
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