Oral

People are injured and lives are lost on a daily basis on our roads and highways. In 2004, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 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 is easy to recognize that traffic related injuries/fatalities are a major public health concern, which requires intensive efforts for successful and longstanding prevention. 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 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have partnered to develop the Public Health Traffic Safety Institute. The Public Health Traffic Safety Institute (PHTSI) is a leadership development and training program that presents an ideal forum for experienced and passionate persons to play a major role in strengthening linkages between public health and traffic safety. It encompasses a multi-sector systems approach, technical assistance and skill building functions for enhanced program planning and development. Open to all states, with funding from NHTSA the institute offered a mini grant to assist participants with their traffic safety programming efforts. Four state teams were selected to participate in the PHSTI including, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Ohio. These teams will present their lessons learned as participants in the Institute and more specifically outline the needs of teen drivers in their respective state. Teams will address the successes and challenges of developing teen based traffic safety programs. Ultimately 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 and traffic safety leaders to share ideas and foster a multidisciplinary approach to traffic safety programming. It is a skill building experience, and a motion to move forward injury prevention efforts.

Session Objectives: By the end of this session participants will be able to: 1.Describe the prevention efforts needed for teen drivers 2. Recognize the benefits of public health skill building opportunities for program planning 3.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing