Communication studies students promote law enforcement motor vehicle safety

What’s the news?
West Virginia University students are focusing on the leading cause of police officer deaths—motor vehicle accidents—developing and testing vehicle safety messages for safe motor vehicle practices including speeding, seatbelt use, distracted driving and stress management. The project is a partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Quotes
“There’s not a whole lot out there in terms of health messaging for law enforcement that is specific to motor vehicle safety. There is a lot of messaging about guns and hand combat, which overshadows motor vehicle safety. How do we create a message that will resonate with law enforcement? How do we get this message to law enforcement? How do we change behavior to keep law enforcement safe on the job? That’s what this project is all about.” — Sydney Webb, health communication specialist at NIOSH who initiated the partnership

“I learned firsthand how health communication campaigns are developed, created and tested. I hope to pursue a career that allows me to use communication to foster positive social change and apply the skills I learned in my graduate coursework.”—Matthew Thomas, WVU graduate student

Resources
Link to original story:
Communication studies students promote law enforcement motor vehicle safety

Photo available for download

Sydney Webb

WVU Department of Communications Studies

WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Target Audiences
State and local law enforcement agencies

Public safety managers

Communications managers

Communications students 

-WVU-

CONTACT: Kaitlin Swisher, Communications Specialist
304.293.9264