PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
During 1995, California reported 3,636 deaths and 296,569 injuries resulting from a total of 471,758 motor vehicle crashes. Half these crashes involved property damage only. Children under the age of 15 accounted for 32 percent of pedestrian crash victims and for over 30 percent of the bicyclist deaths and injuries. To address these alarming statistics, California traffic safety officials resolved to direct their efforts toward traffic safety education.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Commitment to Traffic Safety Education project was to reduce injuries and fatalities from traffic crashes, and to reduce property damage costs to the state and its population from increased insurance and medical costs, and increased demand on public services caused by vehicle crashes. In order to reach this goal, the state used a two-fold approach:

• Providing new direction to existing safety programs
• Furnishing alternative sources of public safety education at no cost

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In 1997, the California Museum of Science and Industry was transformed into the California Science Center, with an increased focus on development and expansion of the Center's traffic safety and preventive safety education program. Developers of the Traffic Safety Education project used the transformation of the former Museum as a springboard to create innovative and important activities within the new Center that would address the need for public safety education. Among the activities and projects created in anticipation of the fresh focus of the Science Center were the following:

• Interactive exhibits that provide tangible explanations of basic traffic safety principles and the role they play in everyday life. These include crash dummies, a Safety Impact Test, bicycle case studies, automobile design tradeoffs and drunk driving exhibits
• A bicycle education program including bicycle rodeos and fun rides
• A weekly presentation of the live theater series, The Electrical, Chemical Brain, which addresses the effects of alcohol and drugs
• Development of a traffic safety education program and materials for use in the Center's Discovery Rooms for preschool-aged children and their parents
• Development of traffic safety education materials for Center visitors
• Implementation of a child safety seat education and training program for Center visitors
• Establishment of partnerships with local clinics, hospitals, and schools for promotion of classes in child safety seat restraint awareness

RESULTS Activities in the new Center were developed and began to operate prior to the transformation of the former Museum into the Science Center. Since the Fall of 1996, the Traffic Safety Education project has sponsored two bicycle rodeos attended by over 2,000 children and their parents; a "Family Fun Day" was attended by more than 600 families; and the Center's theater has presented The Electrical, Chemical Brain series to approximately 200 students each week. Center officials estimate attendance at more than 20,000 visitors each year, greatly increasing Californians' exposure to highway safety messages.

FUNDING   Section 402: $382,190 CONTACT     Monique Hudson Campaign Manager California Science Center 700 State Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037 (213) 744–2520