A Safe Community is a community that promotes injury prevention activities at the local level to solve local highway and traffic safety and other injury problems using a "bottom up" approach involving its citizens. Safe Communities use an integrated and comprehensive injury control system, build broad coalitions, identify problems, use estimating techniques to determine economic costs associated with traffic related crashes, conduct program assessments from a "best practices" and a prevention perspective, implement plans with specific strategies, and conduct evaluations to determine the impact and cost benefits of programs.

NHTSA is in the process of updating and adding to the portfolio of materials available to help you launch and run your Safe Communities program. Watch for more information in future Program Planners and on the Web.

NHTSA produces a wealth of information to help you launch your program. All are available from the Safe Communities Service Center (address below) or from NHTSA Regional Offices (see "State and Regional Contacts" in this Program Planner for a complete listing).

Safe Communities Service Center
819 Taylor Street, Room 8A38
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: 817-978-3653
Fax: 817-978-8339
E-mail: Safe.Communities@nhtsa.dot.gov
Web: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/safecommunities

PROGRAM MATERIALS There are two key documents for communities who are considering joining:

It Wouldn't Hurt to Live in a Safe Community (1) is a brochure for local safety leaders that discusses the benefits of becoming involved with a Safe Communities Coalition. It encourages participation by the medical and health community, business leaders, law enforcement, citizen activists, educators and community leaders, and provides suggestions for getting started. (1996, DOT HS 808 363, Item #5P0003)

Living In a Safe Community Doesn't Happen by Accident (2) is a colorful brochure that gives an overview of the four defining factors of a Safe Community. It is a useful tool for organizing meetings and recruiting coalition members and opinion leaders to commit to the Safe Communities program. (May 1996, DOT HS 808 364, Item #5P0004)

Two publications are continually updated to bring you the latest information:

Safe Communities folios (3) are written by individuals working at the local level, provide practical information about how to implement a Safe Communities program. Topics include data collection, monitoring and evaluation, partnering and coalition building. (DOT HS 808 578, Item #5P0026)