Health and Human Development Programs

Strengthening Traffic Safety Coalitions

Challenge: While many types of agencies are involved in efforts to prevent traffic injuries, they often do not work together at the community level, producing duplication of effort and depriving communities of the benefits of collaborative programs.

Strategy: To publicize the benefits of community-based traffic safety coalitions, HHD produces a bimonthly newsletter, "Building Safe Communities," which includes programming ideas, case studies, resources, and descriptions of national traffic safety initiatives. The free newsletter is sent to 10,000 people, including law enforcement officers, public health professionals, emergency medical technicians, health care providers, and state and local traffic safety professional and advocates.

Result: A well-received newsletter and companion website are playing a major role in increasing traffic safety coalitions across the nation, as well as helping the coalitions reduce motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle injuries. Many organizations request copies of the newsletter for distribution at conferences and workshops, including the Maternal and Child Health Injury Prevention Meeting, the Campus Alcohol and Traffic Safety Conference, and the Annual Emergency Medical Services Conference.