Project
Characteristics |
Innovative Traffic Safety in the Hispanic Community
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Program
Areas |
Multicultural
Outreach Community Traffic Safety |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
County |
Targeted
Population |
Hispanic Community |
Jurisdiction
Size |
223,800 |
Funding |
WA Traffic Safety Commission:
$29,488 Mabton Police Dept.: $6,800 |
Contact |
Chief Raul Almeida
Mabton Police Department
P.O. Box 67
Mabton, WA 98935
(509) 894-4096 raul_rudy_almeida@rl.gov
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Digest
Listing
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WASHINGTON
El Protector
PDF
Version
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Historically, Yakima County has a death rate that is,
at times, nearly twice that of Washington State's average. In 1999 and 2000, 36
percent of the drinking driver deaths in Yakima County were Hispanic drivers.
This data mirrors nationwide data indicating that the incidence of fatal motor
vehicle collisions and other serious traffic safety violations is
significantly higher among the Hispanic population. Limited availability
of traffic safety and driver education information in Spanish, limited
resources and funds to focus on this high-risk group, in addition to
imited English proficiency and cultural differences could contribute to
certain unsafe driving behaviors, including not wearing seat belts,
driving under the influence, and speeding, causing an over-representation
of Hispanics in highway fatalities.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
El Protector is a bilingual/bicultural program
that provides public education through dialogue with the Hispanic community.
The goal of the El Protector program is to reduce the rate of motor vehicle
deaths and injuries among the Mabton Hispanic community.
The program objectives are to:
-
Reduce the incidence of driving under the influence of
alcohol and drugs and of speeding; -
Improve seat belt, car seat, and booster seat
compliance; -
Increase the number of Hispanics with valid driver's
licenses; -
Improve the Hispanic community's understanding of the
importance of traffic safety rules and encourage positive traffic safety
behavior; and -
Build better community relations between the Hispanic
community and law enforcement agencies.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The El Protector program implemented the following strategies and
related activities to achieve its goals and objectives:
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Hosted community events, such as a Movie Night with a potluck dinner, which were designed to build better community
relations between the Hispanic community and law enforcement. -
Projected the image that El Protector could be a neighbor or relative by having officers
wear street clothes rather than uniforms, thereby making the officers appear
more approachable. -
Made presentations to the Hispanic community
regarding seat belt laws, correct use of child safety seats, etc. -
Offered driver's education classes in Spanish
in cooperation with the Department of Licensing as well as created a PowerPointTM
presentation in Spanish to review the driver's handbook and a Spanish Video
that walks an applicant through the driver's license application process. -
Distributed car seats and booster seats to low
income Hispanic families and required all recipients to attend a child safety
training class. -
Displayed posters in areas frequented by the Hispanic
Community, including schools, churches, and clinics. -
Collaborated with various churches, media
outlets, government agencies and programs such as 1-800-BUCKL-UP. -
Created radio and television Public Service
Announcements and aired them on Spanish radio and television stations. -
Sent letters from the Police Chief to the
Hispanic community introducing the goals of the program. -
Created Spanish/bilingual traffic safety
pamphlets. -
Developed and distributed a
Spanish traffic safety coloring book and created educational material in Spanish with
traffic safety messages.
RESULTS
The El Protector program achieved the following
results after two years:
-
Reduced Hispanic drivers' involvement in fatal crashes.
The fatality rate dropped from a pre-project level of 65 percent to 33 percent
in the first year and 42 percent in the second year. -
Improved community relations with the police. -
Increased recruitment of Hispanic/Latino police officers. -
Spawned a train
the trainer course that is being
developed for the Department of Licensing to use in other Hispanic communities. -
Planned expansion of the program
to encompass the entire county.
Fall
2003 complete Digest (PDF)
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