HOW TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF 55

The report explores the roles that voluntary organizations can play in supporting and promoting compliance with the 55 mph national speed limit. In its preparation, in-depth interviews were conducted with a broad spectrum of organizations, many of whom had never before participated in highway safety or energy conservation programs. Included were highway user, union, religious, educational, senior citizen, youth, civic, veteran, farm, insurance and community groups. Besides providing a wealth of information on their internal operations and activities, all interviewees viewed the possibility of participation favorably. Projecting from this finding to the universe of voluntary organizations, it would seem that a vast untapped reservoir exists which can be mobilized on behalf of campaigns focused on 55. However, despite the admitted lifesaving benefits of the national speed limit, for most groups, savings at the gas pump appeared the more popular approach. And for all, participation hinged on the tailoring of campaigns to the special constituencies served by each organization. Recommendations included preparation of a master plan, creation of a marketing vehicle to sell voluntary sector participation, orchestration of the overall effort and recognition and rewards for participants. A demonstration project to test the viability of the concepts recommended among organizations interviewed was also proposed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Citizens for Highway Safety

  P.O. Box 971
  McLean, VA  United States  22101

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1980-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 98 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compliance; Conservation; Demonstration projects; Energy conservation; Fuel consumption; Highway safety; Highways; Incentives; Interviewing; Labor unions; Marketing; Motor vehicles; Organization; Public participation; Public relations; Publicity; Safety; Savings; Speed control; Speed limits; Surveys; Volunteers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Public support; Rewards
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00337129
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt., HS-805 766
• Contract Numbers: NHTSA-PO-9-6678
• Files: HSL, NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 9 1982 12:00AM