To enhance community awareness of traffic safety issues and to make West Branch a safer community.

The coalition is comprised of representatives from the medical professions, emergency personnel, local businesses, youth, and representatives from the West Branch City Police Department, the Ogemaw Sheriff’s Department, and the Michigan State Police Post located in West Branch.

The coalition conducted the ACTS in fiscal year 2000. According to the ACTS, top deficits included safety belt nonuse, attitudes supporting substance abuse, weak traffic enforcement reputation, and frequent alcohol use. In addition, county crash data reveals an excessive speed-related crash profile, excessive 15-17 year old crash profile, a fixed object crash profile, and an excessive alcohol-related crash profile. The city is located in a rural area, with I-75 running adjacent to the city.

Asset scores were highest in the areas of parental teaching, parental involvement, and alternative activities for youth.

• The coalition works hard to connect with youth in the community. They conduct safety programs at the schools. In addition, law enforcement officers regularly eat lunch with the children, taking time to connect with them on a personal basis.
• They work with local businesses regularly to gather materials and funds to conduct community safety programs.
• Community has a Seniors on Patrol – a type of neighborhood watch involving senior citizens.
• They provide positive incentives to adults for buckling up, to children for wearing bike helmets, and they partner with high school students to conduct seat belt challenges.
• In February 2003 they were awarded a Safe Communities grant for up to $4,370 to conduct two campaigns, one for bike helmets, and one to increase safety belt use in the community. To tie in to the state’s safety belt campaign, the coalition adapted the Click It or Ticket logo to include the community’s widely recognized water tower "smiley face" logo. They have ordered materials to be used in their activities, and even incorporated the town’s "Smiley Car" with their safety initiatives. The "Smiley Car" (pictured below) is painted the same bright yellow color as the water tower, and includes the "Smiley" logo and all the logos of the various enforcement campaigns and community programs they are involved with, such as Click It or Ticket, You Drive and Drive, You Lose., and DARE. They hope to add the local SADD logo to the car, with the permission of the SADD members.