Due to weather conditions, the Florida Highway Patrol has closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
State Safety Office
Occupant Protection/Child Passenger Safety
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"Correctly using a child restraint for a young child or
wearing a seat belt by older children and Occupant Protection Program requires a combination of legislation and use requirements, enforcement, communication, education, and incentive strategies necessary to achieve significant, lasting increases in seat belt and child safety seat usage. Programs receiving grant funding in this priority area are focused on three major program related categories:
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Occupant Protection Grants Child Safety Grants Education Enforcement Our Partners Resources |
Programs should focus on seat belt use awareness, enforcement, special needs, teens, minority programs, and other education programs. This area also includes establishing or expanding child passenger safety inspection stations, child passenger safety awareness training, school bus safety, special needs training, and other child passenger safety programs. Items eligible for funding under this category may include: educational materials, survey materials, variable message boards, child safety seats, inspection station supplies, trailers for use as mobile inspection stations, and public awareness materials.
All program areas funded with grant funds are required to have an evaluation method that will allow assessment of the funded program's level of success in reducing fatalities and injuries.
Occupant Protection Incentive Grants (Section 405)
The Section 405 Occupant Protection Incentive Grant program was initially authorized under the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) and reauthorized under SAFETEA-LU. It is administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the federal level and the State Safety Office (SSO) at the state level.
This program provides incentive grants to encourage states to adopt and implement effective programs to reduce highway deaths and injuries resulting from individuals riding unrestrained or improperly restrained in motor vehicles.
Child Safety and Child Booster Seat Incentive Grants (Section 2011)
The Section 2011 Child Safety and Child Booster Seat Incentive Grant grant program was authorized under SAFETEA-LU. It is administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the federal level and the State Safety Office (SSO) at the state level.
This grant program encourages states to enact and enforce booster seat requirements.
The Florida Highway Patrol employs a Roll-Over Simulator to demonstrate the benefit of seat belt use.
Florida
Law requires that all drivers and front seat passengers use seat belts when the
vehicle is in motion. In addition, all persons under 18 years old are required
to be restrained by a seat belt or child restraint device.
FS 316.614
Short high-visibility enforcement campaigns are a proven high cost countermeasure.
The Florida Highway Patrol participates in the national Click It or Ticket Campaigns.
For more information contact Ralph Salvas @ (850) 414-4048
