COLORADO
Distributive Education Club of America (DECA)
Traffic Safety Project

 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population
Innovative or non-traditional approach
Exemplifies “seed money” concept
  Occupant Protection
       
TYPE OF JURISDICTION    
  Multi-jurisdictional    
       
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  General Population
Youth
  66,500


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Greenwood Village, Colorado, is a small municipality within the Denver metropolitan area and, together with two larger communities, comprises a high school/fire protection district of approximately 66,500 residents. Cherry Creek High School, located within this district, conducted an occupant protection survey in the vicinity of the high school in August 1998. The results of this student-initiated survey indicated that more than 89 percent of drivers and passengers surveyed were unbuckled or improperly restrained in child safety seats.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) Traffic Safety Project was to increase safety belt and child safety seat use in Greenwood Village and her sister communities. Objectives of the project were to:

  • Develop a student-centered and sustained occupant protection program
  • Form a partnership with the local fire department for training and education of student participants in the project
  • Establish an ongoing, student-sustained traffic safety effort within the high school


STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In 1998, following administration of the student-initiated occupant protection survey, student members of the Cherry Creek High School chapter of DECA met with members of the Greenwood Village Fire Department, South Metro Fire Rescue, to obtain assistance with their idea to develop an occupant protection program as the organization's service project for the year. Program particulars were provided by South Metro Fire Rescue. The following activities were included in the occupant protection effort:

  • South Metro Fire Rescue taught classes in seat belt use and child passenger safety to the student members of DECA using a modified Buckle Up America! curriculum and the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) curriculum offered through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Following successful completion of the classes, DECA student members accompanied South Metro Fire Rescue on a CPS checkpoint for benefit of the local Safety Awareness Day. The event was held in the parking lot of a local franchise of a national home improvement center. During the day, the trained students assisted fire department staff in conducting 36 CPS checks, by filling out required paperwork, distributing traffic safety materials, and caring for the children while fire department personnel checked the installation of child safety seats
  • Encouraged by the success of their involvement in the Safety Awareness Day activities, the students resolved to continue their interest in traffic safety activities. The students developed ongoing traffic safety classes, lectures, and slide presentations, which they shared with their classmates throughout the school year, and during the summer months for Drivers Education classes at the school. In addition, the students continued to participate with South Metro Fire Rescue in conducting numerous CPS checkpoints after 1998


RESULTS
Supporters of the DECA Traffic Safety Project have credited the students with helping to raise awareness of occupant protection issues throughout the community. The students are viewed as an outstanding untapped resource, capable of bringing increased awareness, in particular, to high school students and their families. The students have planned another occupant protection survey for Fall 2000, and anticipate improved results.

 

FUNDING
  Section 402:
In-Kind:
no new funds
$1,000
CONTACT  
 

Mandy Reed
Public Education Specialist
South Metro Fire Rescue
7900 E. Berry Place
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 773–8282



NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

SUMMER 2000