Buckle UP America Campaign
Possible through a cooperative agreement between NHTSA and HAPCOA
As a member of the law enforcement community, HAPCOA is very aware of the tragedies that frequently result when children and adults do not buckle up. Failure to use car seats for infants or seat belts for older children and adults, frequently results in serious injury or death. In many Hispanic communities, our law enforcement officers see first hand that many of the injured were victims of ignorance -- uninformed immigrants, who often come from third world countries with little or no formal education or familiarity with the customs and laws of the United States. Thus, most of the injuries and deaths in the Hispanic community resulting from lack of seat belt use could have been prevented. To help increase awareness and public safety in the Hispanic community, HAPCOA is pleased to support NHTSA's Buckle Up America campaign with outreach and education efforts.
Each year HAPCOA and its local Chapters work with NHTSA, Hispanic media sources, Hispanic community leaders as well as community based organizations to increase and enhance outreach and education in the Hispanic community prior to and during the annual Buckle Up America Campaign. Although implementation of outreach and education strategies vary, the goals of the NHTSA / HAPCOA Partnership for the Buckle Up America Campaign are simple.
Goals:
- Assist in bringing all Hispanics into the mainstream of the Buckle Up America Campaign.
- Use bilingual abilities and cultural familiarity of HAPCOA to reach and educate the Hispanic community.
- Reduce and eliminate unnecessary injuries of Hispanic children by educating parents on the need for and use of child safety seats.
- Promote a change of attitude regarding seat-belt use through education and high visibility enforcement.