New Jersey - Buckle Up Stencil Project

Project Characteristics

Innovative Approach

Program Areas

Occupant Protection

Type of Jurisdiction

County

Targeted Population

Motorists

Jurisdiction Size

565,601

Funding

Section 402: $1,135

Contact

Theresa Thomas
So. NJ Traffic Safety Alliance
1173 E. Landis
Vineland, NJ 08360
(856) 794-1941
(856) 794-2549 fax

Digest Listing

NEW JERSEY
"Buckle Up" Stencil Project

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Using occupant restraints is the key to decreasing the number of fatalities and injuries on streets and highways. After several years of stagnation, the national seatbelt usage rate recently climbed to 75 percent as a result of the intense efforts put into the May 2002 seat belt mobilization. At the same time, the New Jersey seat belt usage rate reached 80.3 percent. With a goal of reaching an 83.5 percent usage rate by the end of 2003, New Jersey communities have begun looking for innovative strategies to promote seat belt use.

Promoting seat belt use can be a challenge. Although it is a habit for some individuals, many need constant reminders. Pamphlets, posters and signs are good tools for reminding motorists to buckle up. For many communities, especially those facing budget constraints, signs are too expensive to create and maintain.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In an effort to promote seat belt use, Cumberland County resurrected a strategy from the past – the “Buckle Up” Stencil Project. The goal of this program is to increase seat belt use by providing motorists with constant reminders to buckle up before or as they enter the roadway.

Stenciled notices with the words “BUCKLE UP” and a picture of a seat belt would prompt motorists to buckle up. The stencils would be painted on exit driveways in areas such as parking lots, shopping malls, doctors’ offices, businesses, municipal and county properties, libraries, and schools.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, and Salem counties make up the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance. The alliance also includes members of law enforcement, community educators, fire and emergency professionals, engineers, and planners. The members of the alliance agreed to join forces and kick-off the stencil project in each county.

The alliance coordinator:

Arranged with the Sheriffs’ Department in each county to have day-reporting inmates paint the stencils.

Purchased the equipment, stencils and paint. Black paint was used for concrete and white for blacktop.

Secured a kick-off location for a press event in each county.

Promoted the program through the Alliance Newsletter and sent letters to all mayors and county executives.

RESULTS

This project is a low cost way for the alliance to provide a very visible reminder to motorists to always buckle-up. It is free to all participants. To date, all county properties, as well as an additional 101 locations and 145 exit driveways will have the stencils.

NHTSA