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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Prior to enactment
of West Virginia's seat belt law in March 1993, observational
surveys conducted in 1991 and 1992 revealed a statewide seat
belt use rate of 37 percent. Surveys conducted in 1994, a year
after implementation of the new seat belt law, indicated a statewide
seat belt use rate of 58 percent. Although state traffic safety
officials were gratified by the increased use rate, it was clear
that a large number of drivers and passengers still were not
using seat belts.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the
Summer Seat Belt Challenge was to increase the use of seat belts
in West Virginia. Objectives of the Challenge included:
- Developing an occupant
protection program suitable for statewide application
- Designing a program
that would generate competition among the many law enforcement
agencies in the state
- Creating an environment
that would encourage and reward innovative efforts to increase
seat belt use
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
At an April 1998
West Virginia "Top Cops" meeting, the Office of Highway
Safety unveiled the Summer Seat Belt Challenge—a program
designed to increase seat belt use statewide. The rules of the
Challenge were simple:
- All law enforcement
agencies in West Virginia's 55 counties were invited to participate
- Each law enforcement
agency was challenged to increase the seat belt use rate within
their own jurisdiction
- Participating law
enforcement agencies were encouraged to develop innovative occupant
protection programs relevant to their specific jurisdictions
- Seat belt use surveys
were required prior to and following implementation of a specific
campaign or program
- Awards were pledged
to the 15 agencies with the highest seat belt use rate increase
During the Summer
of 1998, 97 law enforcement agencies representing all 55 counties
in West Virginia participated in the Summer Seat Belt Challenge.
The agencies were creative in developing individualized strategies
which included intensified enforcement, local media campaigns,
roadway signs and broad community appeals for support.
On November 9, 1998,
the results of the Summer Seat Belt Challenge were announced
and participating agencies were honored for their accomplishments.
Each of the 15 winning agencies received a new "Kustom Radar"
apparatus presented by the Governor's Representative, the Commissioner
of West Virginia's Division of Motor Vehicles. |
