Yellowstone County Traffic Safety Gophers
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MONTANA
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PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS |
PROGRAM AREA(S) |
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Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population |
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Safe Communities |
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Innovative approach |
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Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety |
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Youth Programs |
TYPE OF JURISDICTION |
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County |
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TARGETED POPULATION(S) |
JURISDICTION SIZE |
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Children under 12 |
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116,000 |
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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Injuries to children under age five
resulting from traffic crashes in Yellowstone County, Montana are above
the national average. Similar injuries to older children occur at the same
rate as the national average. Safe Community program staff members wishing
to address this issue discovered that most readily available materials and
traffic safety programs were designed for older audiences. And although
county students enjoyed Vince and Larry®, the crash dummies were not
able to talk. In order to provide an interactive means of communicating
traffic safety messages to children, county officials developed the Yellowstone
County Traffic Safety Gophers.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Yellowstone County Traffic Safety Gophers program was developed in 1996
to provide a means to effectively present traffic safety information to
children under age 12. Program objectives are to:
- Provide traffic safety presentations to students
effectively in a classroom setting
- Facilitate children learning and remembering
traffic safety concepts such as the use of safety belts, child safety seats,
bicycle helmets and crosswalks; and proper pedestrian and school bus safety
- Tailor the program to become an accepted resource
for local elementary school teachers
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Traffic Safety Gophers program features a series of flipcharts, safety
games, handout materials, and dancing and singing led by two life-sized
gopher characters named Gus and Gertie.
The development phase of the program included the following activities:
- Preparation of a laminated flip chart depicting
Gus and Gertie engaging in traffic safety activities
- Design and construction of life-sized Traffic
Safety Gopher costumes by a local studio theater
- Production of the Traffic Safety Gopher coloring
book, mask and hand puppet
- Salvage of safety belts from a local wrecking
yard for use in a musical chairs/safety belt game
Program presentation in the classroom includes
a review of the Traffic Safety flip chart by the teacher, with suggested
talking points provided by Gus and Gertie. Next, the Traffic Safety Gophers
review traffic safety issues, and ask and answer related questions. The
students are taught a song and play a musical chair game to its tune. Safety
belts are attached to each chair, and children must find a chair and buckle
up to win. At the conclusion of the presentation, "Buckle Up Every
Time" pencils are distributed, along with other relevant traffic safety
materials.
RESULTS
The Traffic Safety Gophers program is
very popular with county elementary schools. Students repeat the "Buckle
Up Every Time" message without being reminded by the gophers or their
teachers. During the 1996-1997 school year, the program was presented to
students at 10 county elementary schools. |
FUNDING |
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Section 402: |
$400 |
CONTACT |
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Dianne Stanley
Executive Administrator
Yellowstone County Traffic Safety
P.O. Box 20982
Billings, MT 59104
(406) 256-2724 |
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
Summer 1997 |