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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In Santa Clara County,
California, during 1997, 104 residents died and 9,785 were injured as
a result of traffic crashes. The economic loss from these crashes totaled
$510.3 million. Statewide data for 1997 also indicated a high incidence
of underage impaired driving. Committees formed to study Santa Clara
County's traffic safety issues, identified five problem areas that required
particular attention: data analysis, alcohol and impaired driving, bicycle
and pedestrian safety, stop sign/red light running and child passenger
safety.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To address the county's
serious traffic safety problems, professionals from the Santa Clara
County Public Health Department developed the Traffic Safe Communities
Network (TSCN) in Santa Clara County project in 1998. The goal of the
program was to reduce deaths, injuries and property damage caused by
traffic crashes. Specific objectives of the Network's efforts included
the following:
- To design a comprehensive,
countywide traffic safety plan
- To build a coalition
of businesses and residents who are concerned about traffic safety
- To target alcohol and
other drug-related traffic crashes
- To promote bicycle and
pedestrian safety
- To encourage increased
use of child safety seats
- To develop programs aimed
at aggressive driving and red light/stop sign violations
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Santa
Clara County Public Health Department developed the TSCN in Santa Clara
County in two phases:
- The start-up
phase involved the formation of six Planning Committees to study the
traffic safety needs in the county, and create a strategic plan for
reducing traffic safety problems. A needs assessment was used to poll
groups interested in, or involved in traffic safety issues, as a way
to identify the most serious problem areas and gaps in services. Using
results from the needs assessment, committee members formulated goals,
objectives and action plans for each area identified
- The implementation
phase replaced the Planning Committees with action-oriented Work Groups.
These Work Groups developed a mini-grant program to fund innovative
traffic safety programs and expand existing programs. Seventeen one-year
grants of up to $25,000 each were awarded for start-up, maintenance,
or expansion of prevention and intervention projects. Grantees, and
more than fifty other organizations were formed into the Traffic Safe
Communities Network, through which members strengthen their individual
programs by sharing information on traffic safety best practices
In June 2000,
program administrators will activate a second wave of mini-grants to
meet the demand for additional funds from non-traditional stakeholders
such as small neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations, and hard-to-reach
diverse communities.
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