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Why use animal characters with human characteristics? Because, they are effective teaching tools with children and adults. Nearly every American knows that Smokey Bear says, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Also, Woodsy Owl and McGruff are animal characters that are widely used.
Program Goals: The Snappy™, Traffic Safety program has four goals:
1. To develop and implement an effective demonstration educational and promotional program in Cleveland and Bolivar County with action learning strategies and advertising on the value of safety belts and protective safety seats for children, youth and adults.
• To reduce citations, accidents, injuries, and deaths.
• To help Cleveland and Bolivar County become the national pacesetter for traffic safety.
• To eventually expand the Snappy™, The Traffic Safety Turtle throughout the State of Mississippi and possibly the nation.
Community Engagemen: Robinson mobilized a diverse group of volunteers from community organizations to help implement the program throughout Cleveland and Bolivar County. Formal guidelines have been developed to Dr. Robinson regulate and control the use of Snappy™, The Traffic Safety Turtle program materials, especially the visual symbols. The program includes a 32- page, full color book with interactive learning exercises which use Snappy™, The Adult and Snappy™, the Baby Safety Turtle to teach important behaviors to children and parents. Also, an exciting CD has been developed with 20 safety songs and poems about traffic safety. The Sheriff of Hinds County, MS, Malcom McMillin, is the CD narrator and Kristan Dambrino, Miss Mississippi, 2005 and a Delta State student, is the lead vocalist. Each child in the Kindergarten through the fifth grade is receiving a free copy of the activity book, a Snappy ™ sticker, and the CD.
Former Cleveland Mayor Martin King, who helped host the 2002 Annual CDS Conference, said, “we are delighted that Snappy was ‘born' in Cleveland and we appreciate the support that is being given to the program locally. We hope everyone will get behind this program and help it work.”
Action Learning Materials: Snappy™, The Traffic Safety Turtle program uses a research-based approach to changing opinions, attitudes, values, and behaviors. The focus is on interactive learning and fun for children, youths, and adults. Family members will become engaged in fun activities that present and reinforce traffic safety from multiple approaches. For example, a number traffic safety songs or verses will be taught to children and their parents. Many of the tunes were adapted from nursery rhymes that are familiar to the American public. Also, children, youths, and adults will complete word puzzles, word games, and safety rule memory games.
Snappy's ™ primary message is “Life is in your hands, Buckle up!” Snappy™, The Baby Traffic Safety Turtle is shown in a wide-range of interactive educational materials with statements such as: “ Dad wants me safe and snaps me in my safety seat”; “Mom loves me because she buckles me in”; “I like my safety seat ;” and “ Good parents buckle up kids.”
 The Snappy™, Traffic Safety Turtles program is being implemented through public and private schools, by police departments, faith-based organizations and civic groups using the CD and activity book.
The program has several funding partners including the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety, the Mayor's Office of the City of Cleveland, Delta State University, Jerry Robinson, Jr., and several Cleveland businesses.
For more information about the Snappy program, contact:
Jerry W. Robinson, Jr.
P.O. Box 3234, DSU
Cleveland, MS 38733
662-846-4359
jrobins@deltastate.edu
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