Public Information and Education Committee
|
KANSAS
|
| PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS |
PROGRAM AREA(S) |
| |
Outstanding collaborative effort |
|
Alcohol and Other Drugs |
| |
High media visibility |
|
Public Information and Education |
| |
|
|
|
| TYPE OF JURISDICTION |
|
|
| |
State |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| TARGETED POPULATION(S) |
JURISDICTION SIZE |
| |
Motorists |
|
2,554,047 |
|
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Since 1995, traffic safety advocates,
law enforcement officials and members of health organizations have joined
forces to actively coordinate Kansas' participation in the Campaign Safe
& Sober public information and education initiative sponsored quarterly
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As each initiative
is introduced, Kansas safety advocates hope to effectively address each
program area presented in the campaign planner and participate in the activities
without duplication of effort. To accomplish this, a committee was organized
to share information, ideas, networks and resources, to help build a strong
and effective partnership. Through this partnership each campaign receives
full attention and members of the committee are able to work together to
support all statewide and national programs and messages. The committee
was established as part of a Public Information and Education project to
focus media attention on programs targeting impaired driving.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The specific goals of the Public Information and Education Committee are
to:
- Increase communication between statewide traffic
safety advocates
- Avoid duplicative efforts
- Promote NHTSA's Campaign Safe & Sober
and its Public Information and Education initiative
- Support statewide traffic safety programs
and assist committee members with their individual projects through information
and resource sharing
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The committee meets monthly, and is comprised of approximately 20 representatives
from various safety agencies and organizations. New members join the committee
regularly. Agenda items for each meeting include a discussion of committee
members' activities and current and upcoming Campaign Safe and Sober planners.
This includes review of ongoing information on relevant subjects, such as
the recent controversy over air bag safety. Members share information, plans
for media events and news releases, promotional materials, statistical data,
brochures and other pertinent safety information.
RESULTS
The Committee has successfully forged
a partnership among a variety of traffic safety partners to determine strategies
for promoting Campaign Safe & Sober. Future partners and target audiences
are routinely discussed, and committee members utilize information from
current Campaign Safe & Sober planners for news releases, media events
and brochures. Other specific goals achieved include:
- Monthly committee meetings encourage direct
communication among traffic safety groups, making distribution of traffic
safety messages much easier. Questions are referred to appropriate agencies,
organizations or individuals
- Planned programs and activities throughout
the state are discussed during each meeting. Committee members are then
made aware of a planned observance, week or activity as well as news releases
and media events. With increased awareness, the likelihood of duplicative
efforts within traffic safety organizations is reduced
- Committee members administering similar programs
and projects often collaborate to distribute information, brochures and
promotional materials. This collaboration serves to increase the number
of Kansans who benefit from safety messages
|
| FUNDING |
| |
Section 402: |
$6,177 |
| CONTACT |
|
| |
Debbie Sinclair
Kansas Department of Transportation
Bureau of Traffic Safety
217 SE 4th Street, 2nd Floor
Topeka, KS 66603-3504
(913) 296-3756 |
|
|
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
Spring 1997 |
