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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Data collected by the
Sheriff's Department of the City of South El Monte, California revealed
that children 13 years old and younger were involved in a higher incidence
of motor vehicle crashes and enforcement activities compared to neighboring
jurisdictions. Analysis of these statistics indicated that injuries
and fatalities suffered by children were, in large part, a result of
nonuse or misuse of occupant restraints.
The population of South El
Monte is 85 percent Hispanic American, a majority of whom only speak
Spanish, are recent immigrants who have not integrated into the mainstream
culture, live below the poverty level and possess little formal education.
Safety advocates have characterized these demographics as complicating
local traffic safety problems.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To address
safety concerns in South El Monte, safety advocates developed the K.I.S.S.
(Kids in Safety Seats) program in 1996. The program sought to reduce
traffic crash-related injuries and fatalities suffered by South El Monte
children. Specific objectives of the program were to:
- Develop
a bi-cultural and bilingual traffic safety program
- Target children
ages 13 and younger
- Promote
community collaboration in addressing the problem
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In 1996,
city representatives and a local community action program formed a partnership
to develop a culturally sensitive traffic safety program. This partnership,
in turn, sought the collaboration of many organizations within the community
such as the schools, libraries, recreation classes, supermarkets, child
care facilities, law enforcement, automobile dealerships and churches.
Through this collaboration, the city developed the K.I.S.S. program,
which became the springboard for a comprehensive traffic safety program
lasting from 1996 through 1999. The following activities indicate the
magnitude of the program:
- Traffic
safety print materials were developed both in English and Spanish.
These materials were disseminated at local fairs, through community
bulletins, at community recreation classes, supermarkets, libraries,
summer parades, elementary and high schools, child care facilities
and driving awareness classes. More than 1,535 school children received
materials and local schools received 16 packages of curricula
- A 30-minute
traffic safety presentation was developed and displayed at 44 community
events. These events included several non-traditional functions such
as the annual South El Monte Easter Breakfast, a yearly Migrant Education
Parent Health Fair, the South El Monte Cinco de Mayo Celebration,
the annual Children's Day Parade and the National Child Safety Awareness
Day. In addition, 32 parent workshops were conducted in English and
Spanish
- Child safety
seats were purchased and were distributed free-of-charge to eligible
families. These families have received 305 child safety seats and
instruction on the proper use of the seats. Compliance checks were
conducted at annual community checkpoints
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