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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0021.124 2002-2004 4oJNtY os N,wq, Lawrence K. Mahuna Harry Kim Wv. 41m~or a?~ Police Chief ' Harry S. Kubojiri ar : r ,TF OF•N.~ Depurr Pa(ice Chief r~ c~ County of Hawaii J ~ POLICE DEPARTMENT March 23, 2004 C - w 349 Kapiolani Sueet Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 - (808)935-3311 Faz (808)961-8869 "7 TO J ES Y KI, COUNCIL CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS w FROM L E K. MAHUNA, POLICE CHIEF SUBJECT FINAL REPORT Seatbelt Innovative Demonstration Program Name of Grant Program: Grants-East Hawaii U.S. Department of Transportation National Federal or State Grantor: Highway Traffic Safety Administration County Grantee DepartmenUAgency: County Police Department Grant No.: DTNH22-01-G-05299 Amount of Grant: $100,000.00 Amount of County Match: None County Revenue & Expenditures Acct 010-3302.86 is 010-201-5219.89 Grant Period: September 28, 2001 -March 15, 2004 Goals: See attached Objectives: See attached Outcomes: See attached Comm. No. 7' ~ 2 Ref. ?o:-~Il~L Ref. Uate 'I Lawrence K. Mahuna Harry Kim o?J,~::" ~ Ponce chief Mn}'or y • - • Harry S. Kubojiri •°;r~ Depury Police Chief O~•M• County of Hawaii POLICE DEPARTMENT 349 Kapiolani Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 (808)935-3J11 • Eax (808)961-8869 March 19, 2004 Mr. Christopher Young DOT/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5301 Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Mr. Young: Attached is the final grant report for the Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program Grant #DTBH-22-O1-G-55299. Thank you for awarding Hawaii County this grant, which was instrumental in maximizing our efforts and enabling us to raise our seat belt usage rates in South Hilo and Puna to about 90%. We look forward to applying for additional grant funding should it become available. Should you have any questions please contact Sergeant Randy Apele of our Traffic Services Section at (808) 961-2305. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, r i. - HY S. KUBOJ DEPUTY POLICE C IEF ACTING POLICE CHIEF RKA cc: Jack Champlin, COTR Ross Jeffries, Contract Specialist `An Equal Opportunity Provider" Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 1 FINAL GRANT REPORT (APRIL 2003-MARCH 2004) GOAL: The goal of this program is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths in the Districts of South Hilo and Puna by increasing the seat belt usage and the use of child restraint systems amongst motor vehicle drivers and passengers, specifically the high risk groups of occupants of pick-up trucks, occupants between the age of fifteen and twenty-four, youth in the back seat of vehicles and weekend motorist. OBJECTIVES ACCOMPLISHED: As stated in the grant application, the Hawaii County Police Department has implement a comprehensive program by completing the following: ? A community coalition was initiated during the first yeaz (April 2002-March 2003) of this two-year extended grant. The coalition included representatives from: • Hawaii County Police Department • Department of Health • Department of Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition • Hawaii County Council • Neighborhood Watch Groups • Community Athletic Organizations Three community coalition meetings were held during this grant period (April 2003- March 2004). ? In accordance with the State Department of Transportation and NHTSA, we continue to use the "Click It or Ticket" slogan for our project. ? Increased awazeness of seat belt and child restraint enforcement efforts through extensive paid and earned media exposure to include: • Press conferences-Mayor Harry ICirn signed two "Click It or Ticket" proclamations during press conferences. "Click It or Ticket" press conference held on May 19, 2003 with Mayor Hany Kim signing a proclamation declaring the week of May 19-26, 2003 as "Buckle Up America Week". Proclamation signed on November 12, 2003 declaring the "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign from November 17-30, 2003. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 2 • News releases-Ten press releases have been issued regarding seat belt usage or the "Click It or Ticket" campaign. Releases issued on: ° May 19, 2003 regarding "Click It or Ticket" campaign. ° June 27, 2003 regarding increased seat belt usage rates for County of Hawaii as a result of "Click It or Ticket" campaign efforts. ° October 1, 2003 regarding "Click It or Ticket" and youth seat belt usage. ° November 12, 2003 regarding "Click It or Ticket" and youth seat belt usage. ° November 12, 2003 regarding Mayor's Proclamation of national "Click It or Ticket" campaign. ° November 21, 2003 regarding "Click It or Ticket" campaign and 3 on 3 basketball tournament. ° November 25, 2003 regarding "Click It or Ticket" campaign and enforcement results. ° December 2, 2003 regarding national campaign enforcement results. ° January 14, 2004 regarding total seat belt citations issued at checkpoints and projects in 2003. ° March 15, 2004 regarding results of two-year seat belt innovative grant. • Radio advertisement-An intense media campaign was conducted during the National "Click It or Ticket" mobilizations and throughout the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holiday seasons. Three separate commercials were created. The first commercial was scripted by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. The second was scripted with the assistance of a local radio station and featured four students, ages 10 through 14, asking parents and family members to help youth in remembering to buckle up. The third commercial focused on the back usage law for youth ages 4-17. • Banners, posters and fl~ "Click It or Ticket" banners remain posted at the Hilo International Airport and Hilo Public Safety Building. Banners are also posted during enforcement projects and have been used by High Schools in their community projects and presentations. "Click It or Ticket" buckle up signs have been erected at high traffic locations by our State Highways Division. • Other media coverage-Using Safe Communities grant funds, a "Click It or Ticket" 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament was held in the Puna District to promote seat belt use amongst youth and teens. Live radio remotes were conducted from the event. ? In an effort to increase awareness of seat belt and child restraint enforcement efforts: • A "Click It or Ticket" presentation was made to 24 public health nursing students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in September 2003. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 3 • The public health nursing students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, in follow up to the presentation made by our staff to the students, conducted seat belt use presentations at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Hilo High School and Waiakea High School. Presentations were made to 250 students from October through November 2003. • Public health nursing students also created a seat belt awazeness pamphlet that was distributed to local high schools and within the community. • Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) Inspectors are providing training to 188 safety inspectors at 109 safety inspection stations in the South Hilo and Puna districts. The training is on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations regarding occupant crash protection and lap and shoulder belt assemblies. ? "Click It or Ticket" presentations made to police officers to increase their understanding of the need and benefit of seat belt enforcement. • In September 2003, three presentations were made to a total of 35 police officers to raise awazeness and increase enforcement of seat belt laws. • In November 2003, a presentation was made to police officers of the Traffic Enforcement Unit to raise awareness and increase enforcement of seat belt laws. ? 169 high profile seat belt use enforcement projects were conducted using innovative grant funds. Safe Communities grant funds were utilized to conduct 88 additional enforcement projects in the South Hilo and Puna Districts throughout the grant period. ? Police personnel, to determine the effectiveness of this grant project, conducted six informal observational seat belt surveys. The Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaii conducted three additional surveys. TASKS AND ACTIVITIES ACCOMPLISHED: ? Overtime was utilized in order to increase the amount of man-hours dedicated to seat belt enforcement, above what the Department would normally provide: • Innovative grant funds were used to conduct seat belt checkpoints during the grant period, resulting in the following: Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 4 169 seat belt checkpoints were conducted. 1803 seat belt, 78 child restraint and 1805 other citations were issued. 63 arrests were initiated. • In addition to the Innovative grant funds, Safe Communities grant funds were also used to conduct seat belt checkpoints in the South Hilo and Puna districts during the grant period, resulting in the following: 88 seat belt checkpoints were conducted. 469 seat belt, 12 child restraint and 369 other citations were issued during the grant period. 21 arrests were initiated. As part of the Innovative grant, we participated in the following national mobilizations: • Participated in Buckle Up Week from May 19-26, 2003. A press conference was held with Mayor Harry Kim signing a proclamation declaring "Buckle Up Week". County, Safe Communities and Innovative grant finds were used to conduct seat belt checkpoints and enforcement projects. 403 seat belt and 16 child restraint citations were issued as part of the campaign. Intense media advertisement campaign conducted during campaign and holiday seasons. Radio media campaign conducted on all radio stations in the Hilo and Puna District. • Participated in the National "Click It or Ticket" campaign ftom November 17 through November 30, 2003. A Mayor's proclamation was signed declaring this period as the "National Click It or Ticket Campaign" period. County, Safe Communities and Innovative grant funds were used to conduct seat belt checkpoints and enforcement projects. 343 seatbelt and 17 child restraint citations were issued as part of the campaign. Intense media advertisement campaign conducted during campaign and holiday seasons. Radio media campaign conducted on all radio stations in the Hilo and Puna District. A "Click It or Ticket" 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament was held in the Puna District from November 15-16, 2003 to kick-off the national campaign and to increase awareness of the seat belt usage laws for youth ages 4-17. Safe Communities grant fiends were used. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-Oi-G-55299 Page 5 ? 85 basketball teams consisting of 400 youth ages 7-18 participated. About 1000 people attended the event. ? 800 pledges from youth and adults to wear their seat belt were obtained. ? 515 "Click It or Ticket" t-shirts were issued to participants, volunteers and coordinators of the event. ? A "Click It or Ticket" t-shirt design contest was held at Keaau High School. Twelve entries were received. ? Issued about 300 customized "Click It or Ticket" medals to placing teams in each age division of the tournament. ? Coordinated a cooperative media event to include a Keiki car-seat checkpoint, booster-seat educational presentation and enforcement projects to coincide with the tournament. Two "live" radio remotes were also conducted during the tournament, one of which was conducted from a seat belt checkpoint. Ice cream was issued to youth wearing their seat belts at the checkpoints. ? Over 60 volunteers participated in the event. For the Innovative grant period of April 2003 to March 1, 2004, a total of 2220 seat belt citations and 136 child restraint citations were issued in the South Hilo and Puna districts. Innovative grant funds, Safe Communities grant funds, and County funds were used for enforcement. In comparison, 2193 seat belt citations and 143 child restraint citations were issued in the six other districts of the county for the same period. ? Four "Click It or Ticket" presentations were made to police officers. • Three "Click It or Ticket" presentations were made to thirty-five police officers in September 2003. • A "Click It or Ticket" presentation was made to 6 police officers of the Traffic Enforcement Unit in November 2003. ? Six informal observational seat belt surveys were conducted. The informal surveys were conducted in Hilo and Puna. • In May 2003, police personnel conducted two informal seat belt surveys. The survey conducted in South Hilo resulted in a 94% usage rate for drivers. The Puna survey resulted in an 87% usage rate for drivers. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 6 • In December 2003, police personnel conducted two informal seat belt surveys. The survey conducted in South Hilo resulted in a 92% usage rate for drivers. The Puna survey resulted in an 89% usage rate for drivers. • In March 2003, police personnel conducted two informal seat belt surveys. The survey conducted in South Hilo resulted in a 92% usage rate for drivers. The Puna survey resulted in an 89% usage rate for drivers. ? The Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaii conducted three seat belt surveys. • A survey was conducted from January through March 2003 resulting in the following: South Hilo seat belt usage rate increased from 88.56% in 2001 to 89.35%. ? The usage rate for drivers increased from 89.55% to 89.80%. ? The usage rate for passengers increased from 85.88% to 87.94%. Puna seat belt usage rate increased from 83.77% in 2001 to 89.13%. ? The usage rate for drivers increased from 84.09% to 89.42%. ? The usage rate For passengers increased from 82.73% to 88.24%. Hawaii County truck driver seat belt usage rate increased from 82.57% in 2001 to 86.93%. Truck passenger seat belt usage rate increased from 75.96% in 2001 to 80.20%. Hawaii County seat belt usage rate on weekends increased from 84.24% in 2001 to 88.41%. ° Hawaii County back seat use among youth increased from 29.14% in 2001 to 71.9%. • A survey was conducted from May 24-31, 2003 resulting in the following: South Hilo seat belt usage rate increased to 90.87%. ? The usage rate for drivers increased to 90.86%. ? The usage rate for passengers increased to 90.88%. Puna seat belt usage rate was reported at 88.66%. This is a slight decline from the 89.13% reported in the prior survey, however is still an increase from the 2001 report. ? The usage rate for drivers was reported at 87.73%. ? The usage rate for passengers increased to 91.30%. Hawaii County truck driver seat belt usage rate increased to 87.66% Hawaii County seat belt usage rate on weekends not observed during this survey. Hawaii County back seat use among youth not observed during this survey. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 7 • A survey was conducted in January of 2004. The results are not yet available. ? Three quarterly meetings of the community coalition were held. ? Presentations on seat belt safety were made to schools, businesses and community organizations. • With the assistance of the public health nursing students, presentations were made to 250 students from Pahoa High and Intermediate School, Hilo High School and Waiakea High School. • Additionally, the PMVI Inspectors are providing training to 188 safety inspectors at 109 safety inspection stations in the South Hilo and Puna districts. The training is on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations regarding occupant crash protection and lap and shoulder belt assemblies. MILESTONES: MONTH ACTNITY Apri12003 o Continue community coalition and initiate enforcement in the South Hilo and Puna Districts. o Continued placement of "Click It or Ticket" banner in Hilo Airport and placement of "Click It or Ticket" signs on State Highways. May 2003 0 "Click It or Ticket" kick-off period and enforcement wave. o Paid and earned media coverage including Mayor's signing of "Buckle Up America Week" proclamation. o Banners placed in highly visible areas during enforcement projects. o Informal surve s conducted in South Hilo and Puna districts. June 2003 o Attendance at Big Island Traffic Safety Council quarterly meeting to provide information of seat belt campaigns and support additional occupant protection grants. o Seat belt survey results received from University of Hawaii. o Press release regarding increased usage rates issued. o Continued enforcement. July 2003 o Continued enforcement. August 2003 0 "Click It or Ticket" press release. o Continued enforcement. o Informal surveys conducted in South Hilo and Puna districts. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 8 September 2003 0 "Click It or Ticket" presentation made to 24 public health nursing students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. o "Click It or Ticket" presentation made to 35 police officers. o Continued enforcement. October 2003 o Continued enforcement. o Community coalition meeting held. o UHH Public Health Nursing students conducted presentations at four schools in the Hilo and Puna districts. o Press release issued regarding youth seat belt usage. November 2003 0 "Click It or Ticket" 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament held in Puna District. o Participated in National "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign. o Mayor's proclamation signed. o Continued enforcement and heavy media campaign. o Four press releases issued regarding seat belt usage and "Click It or Ticket" campaign. o "Click It or Ticket" presentation made to six Traffic Enforcement Unit Officers. December 2003 o Christmas through New Yeazs holiday enforcement campaign. o Informal surveys conducted in Hilo and Puna districts. o Press release issued regarding national campaign enforcement results. o Continued enforcement and media cam ai January 2004 o Continued enforcement and media campaign. o Press release issued re azding seat belt enforcement in 2003. Februar 2004 o Continued enforcement and media cam ai March 2004 o Continued enforcement and media campaign. o Community coalition meeting held. o Informal surveys conducted in South Hilo and Puna districts. o Press release issued regarding results of two-yeaz innovative grant campaign. o Completion of grant and submittal of final grant report. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 9 CONCLUSION: The Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Grant program, initiated in 2001 and extended to 2003, was implemented to reduce injuries and deaths in the Districts of South Hilo and Puna by increasing seat belt usage and the use of child restraint systems. To accomplish this, we adopted the "Click It or Ticket" slogan and initiated a heavy enforcement and educational campaign targeting the high-risk groups to include occupants of pick-up trucks, vehicle occupants aged fifteen through twenty-four, youth in the back seat of vehicles and weekend motorists. As a result, the seat belt usage rate in the South Hilo and Puna districts increased, as demonstrated in the chart below. SEAT BELT USAGE RATE 92 ~ 88% 86% -~-South Hilo W 84% ~ Puna d 82% ~ 80% 78% 2000 2002 2003 (May) YEAR The South Hilo overall seat belt usage rate increased from 83.88% in 2000 to 90.87% in May 2003. During the same period, the driver usage rate increased from 85.11% to 90.86% and the passenger usage rate increased from 80.79% to 90.88%. The Puna overall seat belt usage rate also increased from 83.30% in 2000 to 88.66% in May 2003. During the same period, the driver usage rate increased from 85.86% to 87.73% and the passenger usage rate increased from 77.11 % to 91.30%. Hawaii County Police Department Seat Belt Innovative Demonstration Program South Hilo and Puna Districts Contract No: DTNH-22-O1-G-55299 Page 10 Usage rates also increased for pick-up truck occupants, from 75.83% in 2000 to 87.66% in May 2003, and for weekend motorists, from 83.59% in 2000 to 88.41% in January 2003 (statistics not available for May 2003 survey). Statistics were not available for the age group of fifteen through twenty-four, however, seat belt use among youth in the back seat in Hawaii County increased from 29.14% to 71.9% in January 2003. We have seen positive effects of the increased usage rates. Although injury and fatality rates for crashes from 2000 through 2003 have relatively remained constant, the number of registered vehicles and licensed drivers has greatly increased during this same period. The following table illustrates the increased number of registered vehicles and licensed drivers in correlation to crash, injury and fatality rates over the previous year. YEAR REGISTERED LICENSED TOTAL PERSONS PERSONS VEHICLES DRIVERS MAJOR INJURED KILLED CRASHES 2003 159,129 118,022 2362 Unavailable 35 (+6.27%) (+2.9%) (+4.8%) (+25% 2002 149, 746 114,757 2255 1843 28 (+4.13%) (+3.9%) (-19%) (+1.3%) (-6.7%) 2001 143,802 110,492 2782 1820 30 (+3.74%) (+2.4%) +26%) (+.8%) (-21%) 2000 138,616 107,907 2201 1805 38 From 2000 to 2003, the number of registered vehicles increased by 15%, the number of licensed drivers increased by 9% and the number of major crashes increased by 7%. However, the number of persons injured increased by only 2% when comparing 2000 to 2002 (2003 statistics are not yet available) and fatalities crashes remain relatively equal, there being 35 in 2003 as compared to a four year average of 34 per year, an increase of 3 This review of statistics would indicate that the increased usage rates have reduced injury and fatality rates when considering the yearly increase in vehicles and drivers on the road with the relatively stable injury and fatal crash rates.