PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1995, St. Lucie County, Florida recorded 2,200 motor vehicle crashes, of which 282 were alcohol-related, and resulted in 40 fatalities. Alcohol-related crashes comprised 12.8 percent of the total crashes countywide, nearly 2 percent above the state average of 10.9 percent. These statistics clearly indicated that alcohol was a strong contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes, and that non-compliance with occupant protection laws increased the likelihood that these crashes would result in increased fatalities and injuries, particularly for children passengers.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the St. Lucie County Youth Traffic Safety Program, as developed by the St. Lucie County Health Department, was to reduce the incidence of crashes, fatalities, and injuries through two objectives:

• Increase the use of occupant protection devices
• Increase awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The health department organized the Youth Traffic Safety Program around a series of strategies and activities including:

• Hiring a Youth Occupant Safety Coordinator to organize the various activities of the Youth Traffic Safety Program. The Coordinator also formed links between the local school district, the health department and the law enforcement community to collaborate on traffic safety issues
• Providing car seat safety education in English, Spanish, and Creole, offered at two health department locations
• Distributing car seats at minimal cost to families currently receiving public assistance. The seats were distributed at safety education classes held at health department locations
• Increasing enrollment in Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) at all local middle and high schools. Several motivational programs were presented, including Strides for Safety, Ghost Out, Prom Promise, Buckle Up America! and Take the Lead
• Raising public awareness of traffic safety through various media forums. This included designing and exhibiting signs at each middle and high school in the county, with messages such as "Live to See Your Future—Don't Drink and Drive!" The high school media department filmed and produced a documentary of the Strides for Safety walk, which was shown in every school. Presentations on traffic safety were given at public and private events and at community meetings
• Creating a "moving billboard" by customizing the traffic safety van. The messages reminded the public to wear seat belts, to place children in child restraints and never to drive under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. The van was highly visible and used for many community events, including transport of car seats to educational classes
• Presenting the Buckle Bear program at every preschool in the county
  

RESULTS Developers of the St. Lucie County Youth Traffic Safety Program have been able to demonstrate results from their efforts. Enrollment in SADD increased significantly from 296 in 1995 to 835 in 1996—an increase of over 180% in just one year. Observational surveys conducted by the law enforcement community indicated a marked increase in the use of seat belts by middle and high school students after the traffic safety signs were displayed. Fifty-seven traffic safety presentations were given at local schools, attended by 8,100 students, 1,028 preschool students participated in the Buckle Bear program. Program organizers also provided 19 safety presentations and distributed 350 car seats.

FUNDING   Section 402: $64,815 CONTACT     Marilyn Leeds Okeechobee County Health Department 1728 NW. Ninth Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 (941) 462-5781