Public Health Traffic Safety Institute
WHAT'S NEW
Annually, the American Public Health Association in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeks applicants to participate in the Public Health Traffic Safety Institute (PHTSI). The PHTSI presents an ideal forum for experienced and passionate individuals to play a major role in strengthening linkages between public health, traffic safety and injury prevention. Public health and traffic safety professionals are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams to develop a program or plan to address traffic safety.
This year teams will focus on motorcycle and pedestrian safety.
Teen Driver Safety
Four state-teams were selected to participate in the 2007 PHTSI cohort-Kansas, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Ohio. Click on the state name to read more about what they are currently doing.
Overview
People are injured and lives are lost on a daily basis on our roads and highways. In 2004, there were an estimated 6,181,000 police-reported traffic crashes, in which 2,788,000 were injured and 42,636 people were killed and an average of 117 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in that same year — one every 12 minutes. Given these alarming statistics it’s easy to recognize that traffic related injuries/fatalities are a major public health concern, which requires intensive efforts for successful and longstanding prevention.
The Highway Safety Act of 1970 established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), under the U.S Department of Transportation. NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes through setting and enforcing safety performance standards for motor vehicles and equipment.
As a global leader in motor vehicle and highway safety, NHTSA is committed to providing the most accurate and complete information available to its customers, the American traveling public. To learn more visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/
In order to encourage public health practitioners to become more fully engaged in traffic safety programming and related educational activities, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and NHTSA have partnered to develop the Public Health Traffic Safety Institute.
The Public Health Traffic Safety Institute (PHTSI) presents an ideal forum for experienced and passionate individuals to play a major role in strengthening linkages between public health and traffic safety disciplines. It encompasses a multi-sector systems approach, technical assistance and connections to the community among other skill building functions.
Fortunately traffic related injuries and fatalities are largely preventable, through common public health approaches such as community education and other vigorous intervention efforts, which highlight the importance of the training conducted during the Public Health Traffic Safety Institute. In return the information and skills gained from participation in the PHTSI will be implemented in various community settings, increasing awareness, and working towards the prevention of unintentional injuries.
The mission of the PHTSI is to promote the use of a public health approach to traffic safety issues and provide an opportunity for public health/traffic safety leaders to share ideas and foster a multidisciplinary approach to traffic safety concerns. It is a skill building experience, and a motion to move forward traffic safety prevention efforts.
Program Functions
Open to all states, the Institute is sponsored through funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Institute will help participants develop effective evidence based programs to prevent traffic crashes. The American Public Health Association believes that excellence in public health practice and public programming in our states is directly related to the level of leadership provided by state leaders.
The Institute will assist state traffic safety professionals and state APHA affiliates in collaboration with community and traffic safety leaders to promote awareness around ongoing traffic safety concerns. Although much has been achieved in traffic safety prevention, the science shows there is still more work that needs to be done.
Core Team Training
The centerpiece of the Institute is a one-day orientation/training during APHA’s Annual Meeting in November. The first phase of training includes the review of existing research and data related to gaps in traffic safety efforts, led by expert faculty members. During this training participants will be exposed to tools that will help them hone their skills and incorporate their experience into developing methods to address traffic safety issues. The PHTSI will also help participants to develop programs that expand upon evidence-based traffic safety practices. The training will provide a forum for exploration of new ideas, and an opportunity to share knowledge.
This institute will use contributions from behavioral and social sciences in order to address the issues surrounding traffic safety, implementing a combination of small group skill building activities and content lectures. The day will be interactive, with presentations as well as discussions. Expert led presentations will provide background details, while discussions will highlight the importance of vehicle crash prevention efforts, and ways to incorporate skills learned.
A web-based program will serve as a distance-learning tool. Follow-up sessions, using a self-study approach, will be conducted throughout the year using web-based technology. Technical assistance will be available through monthly telephone conference calls. On-line modules also provide a sustainable communication platform for all cohorts.
Institute features include:
- Expert led faculty orientation and follow up throughout the year.
- Ongoing education and communication via teleconference and distance learning.
- Technical assistance with program planning and evaluation.
Getting Involved
Multidisciplinary teams are selected to participate in the PHTSI. These teams should display a proven commitment to addressing traffic safety concerns within their state.