PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1995, Missouri motorists were involved in 185,915 traffic crashes resulting in 1,109 fatalities and 81,114 injuries. In fact, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for Missourians ages 1 to 34. Although a Community Traffic Safety Program had been in existence in Cape Girardeau since 1987, it ranked among the top 10 counties in Missouri for motor vehicle crash incidents.

Traffic safety officials in Missouri determined that communities could better impact traffic safety if they examined injuries on a broader scope and begin to link injury data. Data linkage allowed causation factors to be more clearly identified, so that more effective prevention programs could be established. This comprehensive approach provides the framework for the "Safe Community" concept. Based on traffic crash data, prior success of a Community Traffic Safety Program, and the political climate of the community, it was determined that Cape Girardeau was the most suitable community in which to establish Missouri's first Safe Communities Program.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Cape Girardeau Safe Community Program was established in 1996 to provide injury prevention strategies, primarily in the area of traffic safety, to the citizens of Cape Girardeau County so that deaths and disabilities resulting from motor vehicle crashes and other causes of trauma would be reduced. Program objectives included:

• Expanding partnerships in the community
• Analyzing local injury data in order to determine areas of concern, and determining whether these areas of concern were being properly addressed
• Evaluating injury data to develop appropriate countermeasures
• Developing a total injury prevention program for the community
• Promoting the concept of injury as a community "health issue"
• Continuing to provide and evaluate public education and information programs developed under the Community Traffic Safety Program
• Providing support to local law enforcement agencies in enforcement and education efforts in the community

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Cape Girardeau's Safe Communities Program is administered by an Advisory Committee of 30 members representing 20 county agencies. These include law enforcement, hospitals, schools, local coalitions, local businesses, the court system, fire departments, emergency medical services, service groups, and the media.

Committee members examine local injury data, determine areas of concern, and make recommendations for programs targeting various groups within the community. Examples of programs developed include:

• Traffic Safety Puppet Program for elementary school students, presented by high school students
• Training workshops on DWI prevention and leadership training for teens
• Senior Safety prevention workshops held at local Senior Centers
• Joint law enforcement efforts between local communities for saturation patrols to address DWI and speed concerns

RESULTS The Safe Communities Program has enabled Cape Girardeau community members to research new approaches to existing safety issues. The program allows committee members to focus on specific areas of interest and population groups within the community, and to develop plans for injury prevention tailored to each individual target group. Through these combined efforts, traffic safety has improved throughout Cape Girardeau.

FUNDING   Section 402: $30,000 CONTACT     Sharee Galnore 40 South Sprigg Street Bismarck, MO 63703 (573) 335-7908