ACTS: A New Data Tool
Volume 4, Number 3 - Summer 2001
A major challenge facing Safe Communities coalitions is how to best collect and analyze local data. Local data can help:
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety has developed a software package to make this process easier. Assessing Community Traffic Safety (ACTS) is a Web-based assessment tool that helps analyze a community's traffic safety problems and identify the resources available to address those problems. ACTS provides short surveys for key community groups (including law enforcement agencies, courts, health departments, major employers, schools, youth, and hospitals). The software combines survey responses with crash and safety data to create a report on community traffic safety assets and deficits. This information is then used to develop an Asset Development Plan to help communities strengthen their injury prevention infrastructures and implement strategies to reduce the toll taken by traffic injuries. The process also strengthens coalitions by providing participants with a common frame of reference, and attracting new partners who can now clearly see the extent of the traffic injury problem as well as their role in a comprehensive effort to prevent these injuries. Sue Guggemos of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning reports that 35 Michigan Safe Communities coalitions have completed ACTS and that assessments are underway in 23 additional communities. She maintains that ACTS was critical to the spread and strength of Safe Communities coalitions in her state. ACTS, which is currently available in fully operational formats for Michigan and Texas, can be found on the Web at http://townsafety.com/ACTSWeb/. For information about adapting ACTS for other states, contact Dr. Bill Donohue at Michigan State University. Telephone: (517) 355-7580; e-mail: donohue@msu.edu.
http://www.edc.org/buildingsafecommunities/vol4_3/acts.htm
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