PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
A large proportion of Nevada bicyclists, both adult and children, have limited knowledge of bicycle safety, yet they must share congested roadways with motor vehicles. Unaware of the dangers posed by surrounding vehicles, bicyclists often make unpredictable turns and maneuvers that expose them to serious injury. Motorists making turns often fail to notice bicyclists and pedestrians, and don't allow adequate space when passing them on roadways. Pedestrians also fail to understand and obey traffic signals directing them to Walk or Wait. Due to other police priorities, bicycle and pedestrian laws are rarely enforced. The growing conflict among these various users of Nevada's roadways is reflected in the fact that in 1995, 857 bicyclists were injured in traffic crashes, 3 fatally, and 977 pedestrians were injured in crashes, with 61 fatalities.

Approximately 50 percent of Nevada bicyclists are children. The number of children injured in traffic crashes as bicyclists and pedestrians has increased dramatically since 1992. As many as 2,700 Nevada children ages 5 to 15 are treated for bicycle injuries each year.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to decrease the rates of bicyclist and pedestrian injuries and death in Nevada, Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) officials implemented the Nevada Elementary Traffic Safety Education (NETSE) program. The NETSE program sought to:

• Integrate bicycle and pedestrian safety instruction and practice into kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school curricula
• Educate motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians about safe interaction on roadways
• Institutionalize consideration of the safety needs of bicyclists and pedestrians into planning, design and construction of transportation and recreational facilities
• Obtain support from law enforcement and judicial personnel for issuing citations and fining violators

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
To provide funding for the NETSE program, the Nevada Department of Transportation imposed a 50 cent fee on all driver's licenses. Revenues from this fee provide curriculum materials and training for elementary school teachers. The NETSE curriculum is designed to be taught in conjunction with physical education.

A bicycle trailer, complete with 16 BMX (20-inch) and 4 adult mountain bikes, along with helmets, is provided for use by teachers who have completed the Elementary Traffic Safety training session. Helmets and safety education videos may also be checked out from the OTS library for use by bicycle and pedestrian programs throughout the state.

Public service announcements and press releases announcing the program were produced and distributed with Nevada's annual "School's Open" campaign.

RESULTS The NETSE program was implemented during the 1996-1997 school year, and was very well-received by students, parents and teachers. The Nevada state legislature increased program's budget in 1996 to cover all future implementation costs. Program accomplishments include: 112 teachers completed the Elementary Traffic Safety training workshops 63 elementary schools received instructional videos and curriculum workbooks 10,000 copies of the booklet Safe Bicycling in Nevada, were printed and distributed to law enforcement agencies and bicycle shops An animated public service announcement (PSA) on pedestrian safety and 4 radio PSAs about bicycle and pedestrian safety were produced

FUNDING   Section 402: $39,843   State:  $55,430 CONTACT     Mary Hataway Nevada Office of Traffic Safety 555 Wright Way Carson City, NV 89711 (702) 687-5720