The National Organization for Youth Safety based in the United States has this year opened up its Youth Traffic Safety Month with five countries around the world. The countries include Kenya, Uruguay, Haiti, Canada and the United States of America in the promotion of traffic safety to young people.
In 2007, NOYS developed and implemented the now annual National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM) campaign that is held each May. NYTSM was formed in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to support the United Nations 2007 Global Road Safety Week.
NOYS Youth launch the Decade of Action for Road Safety during Youth Traffic Safety Month last year.
The purpose of NYTSM is to have a one-month focal point each year during which time young people can shine a light on the work that they have done throughout the year to improve roadway safety. By concentrating this focus in the same month nationally, it has also allowed these programs to get greater media and community attention. May was also selected because it marks the beginning of summer, the deadliest time on the road for teens, and provided another opportunity to emphasize safe summer driving. Youth groups (often chapters of NOYS Coalition member organizations) have also often used this month-long campaign to showcase new programs or celebrate their successes. NOYS and its coalition members have supported these efforts by providing ―toolkits and other resources to these youth groups, and also scheduling national events to draw attention to the youth safety programs.
Young people meet Transport Secretary Ray La Hood at Capitol Hill during Youth Traffic Safety Month last year.
The expansion of the program complements the Decade of Action supporting International traffic safety organizations and advocates who can now officially become partners of the Global Youth Traffic Safety Month campaign.
Each May youth across the country unite during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month™ to focus on the leading cause of death for them and their peers; traffic related crashes. Global Youth Traffic Safety Month™ empowers youth to develop and lead traffic safety education projects and support law enforcement and effect legislation to protect teen drivers.
An example of NOYS’ activities during the Youth Traffic Safety Month in the United States
NOYS will run a range of activities around North America and selected countries around the world including:
Kenya
- The Chariots of Destiny Organization along with Pamoja Road Safety Initiative intend to launch the “Taking Road Safety to School” project aimed at reducing road crash related death and injuries to children and youth.
- They are going to host a pledge campaign and pass out materials at malls.
- NOYS is going to send Global Youth Traffic Safety Month materials to the organization.
Canada
- NOYS has established partnership with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation and Ontario’s Students Against Impaired Driving.
- NOYS youth and OSAID youth have connected and developed a partnership to bring NOYS program-Make Your Parties Rock-to OSAID chapters and schools. The resource will assist OSAID chapters in planning safe proms.
- OSAID is currently seeking funding to bring youth to May events.
Haiti
- NOYS is partnering with IDB to host a traffic safety poster artwork contest in schools in Haiti.
- IDB has strong relationships with the schools in Haiti and has funded roadway safety projects to help rebuild the communities.
- NOYS and IDB will feature poster creations on website and announce winner(s)
Uruguay
- NOYS and IDB partnered on a pledge campaign for IDB’s annual meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay.
- NOYS developed and printed 1000 pledge postcards for IDB to bring to the traffic safety event at the meeting.
- Youth at the event received the postcards and tweeted their pledges on Twitter. (we are waiting to receive a report of numbers)