Georgia--Occupant Protection Enforcement

Occupant Protection Enforcement

GEORGIA

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS		PROGRAM AREA(S)
	Outstanding collaborative effort		Occupant Protection

TYPE OF JURISDICTION
	State

TARGETED POPULATION(S)		JURISDICTION SIZE
	General Population		7,486,282

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1996, the Georgia legislature strengthened the state's occupant protection laws by requiring belt use by all front seat occupants in passenger cars, and by applying the child passenger safety law to children through the age of 17. No activities to implement the new laws were undertaken at the time of enactment, because all efforts were focused on issues related to the Olympic games, hosted in Atlanta. As a result, after an initial and short-lived increase in safety belt use, rates began to decline.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Occupant Protection Enforcement program is aligned with the President's goal of 85 percent belt use by the year 2000. The following objectives were designed to help achieve this goal:

Initiation of a rigorous, statewide enforcement program
Development of a creative public education program to compliment the enforcement efforts

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Georgia Office of Highway Safety developed the Occupant Protection Enforcement program in 1997 to encompass a variety of strategies and activities designed to meet the goal of the program.

In August 1997, the Georgia State Patrol applied for and received an Air Bag Safety Coalition grant to launch a statewide seat belt enforcement campaign Operation Strap 'N Snap: Buckle Up or Pay Up
Under the new two-year grant, the State Patrol planned for eight waves of intensive enforcement activities in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies
Curricula were developed by the Georgia Occupant Protection Coordinator for training all 900 state officers in child passenger safety, including strategies for enforcement and proper use of occupant protection devices
The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) Region 4 office was instrumental in negotiating a liaison with the Georgia division of Pizza Hut, Incorporated to join forces in educating the public about occupant protection
Pizza Hut developed an incentive program to be used as a tool with the occupant protection program, called Seat Belts Give You The Edge. The chain provided 70,000 buy-one/get-one-free coupons, which were distributed by local law enforcement agencies and the Georgia State Patrol to operators of cars in which everyone was properly buckled

RESULTS
Three enforcement waves have been conducted: the first wave took place in August 1997; the second wave in December 1997; and the third wave in March 1998. During the three waves, law enforcement officials issued citations for more than 100,000 seat belt and child restraint violations. Popularity of the enforcement program increased among local city and county police departments, gaining in numbers of participating agencies from 143 the first wave, to 156 the second wave, to 275 the third wave.

Observational data indicate significant improvements in occupant protection compliance rates: during the first wave, compliance improved from 51 percent prior to enactment of the new laws to 68 percent, and after the second wave of enforcement, compliance rates climbed to 75.5 percent.

FUNDING
	Section 403:	$125,000
	Air Bag Safety Coalition:	$450,000
CONTACT
	Colonel Sid Miles, Commander Georgia State Patrol Georgia Department of Public Safety P.O. Box 1456 Atlanta, GA 30371 (404) 624-7880

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Spring 1998