Traffic Safety Digest  
Spring 2003
 
Project Characteristics
Public Information & Education
Parent & Youth Education

Program Areas
Alcohol & Other Drugs

Type of Jurisdiction
County

Targeted Population
Youth, Parents

Jurisdiction Size
465,000

Funding
Section 402: $10,000
Local: $30,840

Contact
Mary Moss
Court Svcs. Coordinator
12400 Foster
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 895-6500
(913) 327-5644 fax

Digest Listing


     

KANSAS
Wrong of Passage


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Motor vehicle crashes cost over 160 billion dollars in the United States each year. This cost does not include the pain and suffering of those injured or their families. National and State studies show that certain groups of people are categorized as high risk for being non-compliant with safety belt and impaired driving laws. Predominantly high-risk groups include teenagers, rural populations, and minorities.

In 2001, the City of Overland Park Police Department investigated 5,724 motor vehicle crashes and found that 1,039 (18 percent) involved injuries. Injury and death caused by high-risk motor vehicle crashes have a direct effect on the quality of life for the residents of Overland Park and Johnson County, Kansas. From 1997 to 2001, Kansas experienced a nine percent increase in its alcohol-related crashes, and currently thirty-nine percent of fatalities are alcohol-related. Johnson County has the largest county population in the state and is ranked fifth among counties in the state with traffic safety problems.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Wrong of Passage project’s main objectives were to:

  • Decrease deaths and injuries in vehicle crashes in Johnson County, Kansas;
  • Reduce drunk driving incidents involving Johnson County youth;
  • Educate parents and encourage them to intervene in a child’s inappropriate and unsafe driving behavior; and
  • Initiate new partnerships in the fight against drunk driving.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

“Wrong of Passage” is a multimedia presentation for adults and youth that focuses on the issue of underage drinking and related tragedies. The program involves the following activities:

  • Develop the video, “Wrong of Passage,” geared to educate parents.
  • Develop the video, “Choices,” geared to educate youth.
  • Establish partnerships with local and county agencies and get them involved in the program.
  • Work with area schools, athletic departments, and courts to administer the program.

RESULTS

This program was developed to address staggering underage drinking statistics, parental/adult denial, and lack of information on this topic. This project was a collaborative effort that included the City of Overland Park Police, Court and Court Services, the Regional Prevention Center, and Kansas Department of Transportation. Numerous focus groups of both students and parents were conducted to help develop this project.

To date, 187 presentations have been made to more than 10,500 people in Johnson County. The program serves as a model to various rural areas in Kansas and Missouri. The “Wrong of Passage” video has won several prestigious national awards including The Videographer Award; Award of Excellence; two highly acclaimed 2001 Bronze Telly Awards; and the silver, bronze, and honorable mention from the International CINDY Awards. The collaboration and support that developed as a result of this program have been incredible!

    

 
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