Safer New Mexico Now

SAFER STRIVES TO REDUCE THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL BURDEN OF INJURIES. IN PURSUIT OF SAFER COMMUNITIES, SAFER WILL ADVOCATE FOR INFORMED POLICY-MAKING, PROVIDE EDUCATION, SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFER RESOURCES, AND NURTURE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING.

INJURY PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER: SINCE 1985, THROUGH THE INJURY PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER (IPRC), SAFER HAS PROMOTED THE USE OF PRINT MATERIAL, PUBLIC EDUCATION, ENFORCEMENT, TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT TRAFFIC SAFETY INITIATIVES. THE IPRC ENHANCES COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION (NHTSA TSD), ALL LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA OUTLETS, DWI COUNCILS, EMS REGIONAL OFFICES, UNM, AND MORE THAN 40 OTHER HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE. ONE OF THE PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF THE IPRC IS ITS MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND INJURY PREVENTION MATERIAL, INCLUDING BROCHURES, POSTERS, AND PROMOTIONAL ITEMS. REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY SECTOR, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, AND OTHER INJURY PREVENTION ADVOCATES REGULARLY REQUEST ITEMS FROM THE IPRC. SAFER USES A COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE TO TRACK ALL MATERIAL DISTRIBUTED.

LAW ENFORCEMENT LIAISON (LEL) PROGRAM: SINCE 1985, SAFER HAS WORKED IN COOPERATION WITH THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION (NMDOT TSD) AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE TO DEVELOP, COORDINATE, IMPLEMENT, AND MONITOR STATE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TRAFFIC SAFETY. SAFER EMPLOYS THE SERVICES OF THREE LELS WITH EXTENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETING BACKGROUNDS. THE LELS ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMUNICATING AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY LAWS, ISSUES, AND BEST PRACTICES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. ON BEHALF OF THE TSD, THE LELS ACTIVELY NEGOTIATE WITH STATE, COUNTY, TRIBAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DETERMINE FUNDING AMOUNTS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE TSD. NEGOTIATIONS ARE BASED ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES, CRASH DATA, PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION, AVAILABLE RESOURCES, TSD RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TOTAL IMPACT ON THE STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES OF REDUCING CRASHES AND INCREASING OCCUPANT RESTRAINT USE.

OCCUPANT PROTECTION: SAFER IS THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION'S (NMDOT TSD) SOLE-SOURCE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERING THE NATIONAL CPS CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM. SINCE 1997, SAFER HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTERED THIS PROGRAM (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE NHTSA STANDARDIZED CPS TECHNICIAN TRAINING). WITH THE HELP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FIRE SAFETY PERSONNEL, AND HEALTH CARE AGENCIES STATEWIDE, SAFER CONDUCTS INSPECTION EVENTS, INCLUDING CHILD SAFETY SEAT CLINICS AND FITTING STATIONS, TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ON THE CORRECT SELECTION, INSTALLATION, AND USE OF THEIR CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND VEHICLE SEAT BELTS. ON BEHALF OF THE NMDOT TSD, SAFER COORDINATES A CHILD SAFETY SEAT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM TO REACH SOME OF THE MORE VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE STATE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MAJOR HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE CLINICS, SHELTERS, HOME HEALTH VISITATION PROGRAMS, NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH CENTERS, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND INSTRUCTION ON THEIR PROPER USE.