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Road Safety & Indigenous Communities

Safe Systems Approach

Jeffrey Michael, EdD and Holly Billie, MPH

Motor vehicle traffic deaths affect indigenous communities at a disproportionate rate as compared to the overall United States population. For children and youth ages 0-19, motor vehicle traffic death rates among American Indian and Alaska Native children and youths are up to 8 times higher than those of other racial and ethnic groups. This is often due to structural barriers in tribal communities such as lack of lighting, potholes, cattle, etc. This course dives specifically into the effectiveness of taking a Safe Systems approach to road safety in tribal communities.

Perspectives from Safe Systems experts and tribal partners on safe systems approaches to road safety are highlighted as examples from specific communities. The course provides historical context to road safety and specific considerations for roads in tribal nations. Next, the course focuses on how to intervene to create a safe system in communities. In addition, this course will prepare you with information on how to apply for an SS4A grant, with examples from specific communities who have successfully obtained the grant. Throughout the course, resources are provided with tools on how to apply for SS4A grant and how to implement a safe systems approach.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Setting the Stage

Intervening to Create a Safe System in your Community

Putting Safe System Interventions in Place

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Contextualizes road safety for tribal communities, an underprivileged population in the US

Provides a practical guide to implementing Safe Systems, an evidence-based approach to improving road safety

Empowers learners to advocate for road safety by providing information on grant opportunities

Offers insights from experts and practitioners in the field of road safety in tribal communities

Suitable for individuals seeking to enhance road safety in tribal communities

Provides historical context, outlining the importance of road safety and its relevance to tribal nations

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Reviews summary

Critical road safety for tribal nations

According to learners, this course offers a critical and timely exploration of road safety in Indigenous communities, a subject often overlooked. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the Safe Systems Approach, emphasizing its application to tribal nations. Students appreciate the inclusion of expert perspectives and practical tools, particularly guidance on applying for the SS4A grant. While the course provides essential historical context, some may find the depth of certain technical interventions warrants further independent study. Overall, it's considered an invaluable resource for professionals working to improve road safety outcomes.

Provides a strong foundation but may require further independent study for specifics.

"This course is an excellent introduction, though more in-depth technical details would be useful for advanced practitioners."

"I felt the course set the stage perfectly, but for highly specific interventions, I'll need to do more research."

"It covers a broad scope; deep dives into every specific barrier like lighting or cattle require external resources."

Features valuable perspectives from experts and tribal partners.

"The insights from Safe Systems experts and tribal partners were incredibly insightful."

"Hearing directly from those working on the ground added immense value to the course."

"Their real-world examples and experiences brought the concepts to life."

Provides a comprehensive understanding of the Safe Systems approach framework.

"The course provided a robust framework for approaching road safety holistically."

"It really helped solidify my understanding of the Safe Systems principles."

"I gained a much clearer perspective on how to intervene to create a safer environment."

Offers actionable strategies and specific guidance for SS4A grant applications.

"The information on applying for the SS4A grant was a game-changer for my work."

"I appreciated the concrete examples from communities that successfully obtained the grant."

"Learned practical steps for implementing safe system interventions in real-world settings."

Addresses vital, often-overlooked road safety challenges in Indigenous communities.

"This course shed light on the disproportionate impacts of road fatalities in Indigenous communities, which is so crucial."

"I found the specific focus on tribal nations incredibly valuable and unique."

"The historical context provided was essential for understanding the current challenges."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Road Safety & Indigenous Communities: Safe Systems Approach with these activities:

Review Road Safety in the US

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Refresh your knowledge of road safety in the US to build a solid foundation for understanding the course materials.

Browse courses on Traffic Safety

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Read the following articles:
Summarize the key points of the articles.
Identify areas where you need further clarification.

Read and review 'Road Safety Audit Manual for Developing Countries'

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Review the principles and practices of road safety audits to enhance your understanding of the Safe Systems approach.

View World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts and recommendations.
Identify specific sections or chapters that are most relevant to your tribal community.
Summarize the main findings and recommendations in your own words.

Practice using the Safe Systems Assessment Tool

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The Safe Systems Assessment Tool can help you identify road safety hazards and develop mitigation strategies.

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Download and familiarize yourself with the Safe Systems Assessment Tool.
Identify a specific road or intersection in your community to assess.
Conduct the assessment using the tool's guidelines and criteria.
Document the findings and identify potential road safety improvements.

Six other activities

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Gather community and stakeholder input on road safety concerns and priorities

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By proactively gathering input, you can ensure that the Safe Systems approach is tailored to the specific needs and concerns of your community.

Browse courses on Community Engagement

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Identify and reach out to key community members and stakeholders, including tribal leaders, elders, parents, youth, and law enforcement.
Conduct surveys, focus groups, or interviews to gather feedback on road safety issues and concerns.
Document the input received and analyze it to identify common themes and priorities.
Share the findings with the community and stakeholders to build consensus and support.

Attend a Safe Systems Road Safety Assessment Workshop

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Gain hands-on experience in conducting road safety assessments to identify hazards and develop mitigation strategies.

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Research and identify upcoming Safe Systems Road Safety Assessment Workshops.
Register for a workshop that aligns with your schedule and interests.
Actively participate in the workshop, taking notes and asking questions.
Apply the learnings from the workshop to your tribal community.

Find a mentor who can guide you in implementing a Safe Systems approach

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A mentor can provide valuable advice, support, and encouragement as you navigate the process of implementing a Safe Systems approach.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify potential mentors within your community or network.
Reach out to your chosen mentor and express your interest in working with them.
Establish clear expectations and goals for the mentorship.
Regularly meet with your mentor to discuss progress and challenges.

Develop a Safe Systems Action Plan for your community

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By creating a comprehensive action plan, you can provide a roadmap for implementing the Safe Systems approach in your community.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Review the Safe Systems principles and guidelines.
Identify specific road safety issues and priorities based on the community input you have gathered.
Develop a set of goals and objectives for the action plan.
Outline specific actions, timelines, and responsibilities for implementing the plan.
Secure funding and resources to support the implementation.

Join a peer learning group or forum to connect with others implementing Safe Systems

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Connecting with peers can provide you with a sense of community, support, and the opportunity to share ideas and best practices.

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Join a peer learning group or forum focused on Safe Systems implementation.
Actively participate in discussions and share your experiences.
Learn from the experiences and insights of other members.

Volunteer with a local road safety organization or project

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By volunteering your time, you can gain practical experience and contribute to road safety in your community.

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Identify local road safety organizations or projects that you can support.
Reach out to the organization or project and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Commit to a regular volunteering schedule.
Participate actively in the organization's or project's activities.

Career center

Learners who complete Road Safety & Indigenous Communities: Safe Systems Approach will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 31 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Road Safety & Indigenous Communities: Safe Systems Approach.

Historical Thinking

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Explores how people think historically, drawing on research to understand the cognitive processes involved in contextualization, sourcing, and corroboration. It is highly relevant for anyone seeking to develop or teach historical thinking skills. This book provides practical insights and a strong theoretical basis for understanding how we make sense of the past.

Road Safety & Indigenous Communities

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Critical road safety for tribal nations

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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