Local Notes

Volume 3, Number 1 - December 1999

• The Lincoln-Lancaster County (Nebraska) Safe Communities Coalition is building on Nebraska's new graduated licensing system by participating in a Youth Driver Training Program to educate teenagers and their parents about impaired driving, seatbelts, speed, the financial and personal consequences of violating traffic laws, and encouraging safe driving by setting family rules about new drivers' automobile use. Contact: Patte Newman, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. (402) 441-6284.
• The Summit County (Ohio) Safe Community Initiative has recently begun a second series of public education announcements on area billboards. The first series focused on preventing impaired driving. The second, (pictured right), promotes proper child safety seat use. Contact: Robert Firis, Summit County Sheriff's Department. (330) 643-2161.
• The Community Alliance for Teen Safety (CATS), a Safe Communities program in Derry, New Hampshire, recently held a Building Safe Communities conference. The event featured sessions on recruiting partners, the coordinator's role, working with the media, and advocacy. Representatives of the Region I NHTSA Office and the Providence, Rhode Island, Norwich, Connecticut, and Johnson City, Tennessee, Safe Communities programs were present to share their expertise and experience with the participants. Contact: CATS. (603) 434-5251.
• Three Safe Communities pioneers were recognized by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety's annual Highway Safety Champions awards. Ron Perkins, Executive Director of Anchorage (Alaska) Safe Communities was recognized for his commitment to injury prevention. Dr. Joseph Sabato, one of the founders of the Community Alliance for Teen Safety (see above) was recognized for his efforts to prevent alcohol-related traffic injuries to young people. And Diane Riibe, Executive Director of Project Extra Mile (which was featured in the October/November 1999 BSC) was recognized for her work to prevent impaired driving in Nebraska. Contact: AHSA. (202) 408-1711.

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