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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
From 1992 to 1997,
traffic safety statistics for the City of Norwich, Connecticut
revealed a 46 percent increase in motor vehicle crashes. Crash-related
injuries increased 15 percent from 1994 to 1997—nearly five
times the 3.5 percent increase nationally.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the
Norwich Safe Communities Coalition project was to reduce traffic
crashes and crash-related fatalities and injuries in the Norwich
community. Objectives of the project included:
- Increasing the
general public's awareness of traffic safety laws
- Increasing traffic
safety enforcement and education efforts
- Improving safety
belt, child safety seat and bicycle helmet use
- Decreasing incidents
of speeding
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In 1997, prompted
by the alarming increase in traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities,
Norwich took steps to make the city the first Connecticut municipality
to adopt the entire Safe Communities program. During July, a
committee of school and government officials, police, health,
business, concerned parents and media representatives met to
develop an action plan for addressing the traffic safety problems
in the community and outline a strategy for meeting the goals
of the new Norwich Safe Communities Coalition project.
Key elements of the Coalition's strategy included:
- Compiling statistics
into a community profile showing the most hazardous traffic areas,
the most common types of crash-related injuries and the cost
to taxpayers and businesses
- Hiring a part-time
coordinator for the Safe Communities program, to apply for grants
to help fund the effort
- Increasing law
enforcement efforts, including speed checks, seat belt/child
safety seat checks and neighborhood patrols
- Expanding prevention
efforts by purchasing two mobile speed monitoring devices
- Establishing a
safe driving pledge program in Norwich schools
- Challenging the
state General Assembly to take stronger action in punishing impaired
drivers
- Researching the
need for sidewalks throughout the community
- Involving the media
through weekly traffic safety messages and public announcements
- Conducting child
safety clinics
- Partnering with
the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to provide
driver education for residents of Norwich who are fifty years
old and above
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