Occupant Protection Task Force

The Mississippi Office of Highway Safety (MOHS) develops and updates the Occupant Protection Strategic Plan (OPSP) with the help of the Mississippi Occupant Protection Task Force (OPTF) and the MOHS staff. The OPSP is a multi-year plan that is updated and revised annually, along with updates and revisions, as needed to reflect the states demographics, data analysis, activities and vision of the OPTF and MOHS.

The developed OPSP is presented to the OPTF for review, comments and for approval. Once the OPSP is approved by the OPTF, information is included in NHTSA 405(b) application, in accordance to the FAST Act. The OPSP plan is provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in response to the grant requirements of Title 23, Section 405(b). The following components follow and meet the NHTSA Uniform Guidelines for State Highway Safety Programs, Guideline No. 20 (Occupant Protection), to address highway safety issues, with the emphasis of seatbelt usage in adults, teens and children for the State of Mississippi. The OPSP is qualifying criterion for the 405(b) application as a low seatbelt use state.

The OPTF was established by the MOHS and the Mississippi Governor’s Representative (GR) during 2017, on the recommendation of the OP Assessment and to meet the requirements for an OP Task Force, set in the MAP-21 requirements. The OPTF continues to operate under the requirements of the FAST Act. The OPTF was established to discuss, formulate strategic plans and create strategies involving communication, data collection, resource sharing, seatbelt and child restraint law review, high visibility enforcement ideas and other topics that are based on Highway Safety Guideline No.20. The MOHS manages the OPTF as a priority program and includes strategies and targets developed by the OPTF that will be managed and tracked for progress by the MOHS.

Coordination:

The development of the OPSP is a collaboration of all partners of the OPTF. The OPSP coordination process includes:

  • Holding collaboration meetings to share data, information on program and discussion on OP; 
  • Identify common factors through problem identification to find solutions;
  • Determine common trends and common joint goals; and
  • Create collaborative plans to combat joint highway safety issues within the State.

The OPTF corresponds through email, phone calls and strategic planning meetings. The OPTF schedules strategic planning meetings throughout the year, with meetings scheduled for the purpose of program review, discussing OP topics and trends, strategic planning and OPSP approval for inclusion in the 405(b) OP grant application.

Please contact the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety at 601-977-3700 for more information.

The Mississippi Office of Highway Safety (MOHS) develops and updates the Occupant Protection Strategic Plan (OPSP) with the help of the Mississippi Occupant Protection Task Force (OPTF) and the MOHS staff. The OPSP is a multi-year plan that is updated and revised annually, along with updates and revisions, as needed to reflect the states demographics, data analysis, activities and vision of the OPTF and MOHS.

The developed OPSP is presented to the OPTF for review, comments and for approval. Once the OPSP is approved by the OPTF, information is included in NHTSA 405(b) application, in accordance to the FAST Act. The OPSP plan is provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in response to the grant requirements of Title 23, Section 405(b). The following components follow and meet the NHTSA Uniform Guidelines for State Highway Safety Programs, Guideline No. 20 (Occupant Protection), to address highway safety issues, with the emphasis of seatbelt usage in adults, teens and children for the State of Mississippi. The OPSP is qualifying criterion for the 405(b) application as a low seatbelt use state.

The OPTF was established by the MOHS and the Mississippi Governor’s Representative (GR) during 2017, on the recommendation of the OP Assessment and to meet the requirements for an OP Task Force, set in the MAP-21 requirements. The OPTF continues to operate under the requirements of the FAST Act. The OPTF was established to discuss, formulate strategic plans and create strategies involving communication, data collection, resource sharing, seatbelt and child restraint law review, high visibility enforcement ideas and other topics that are based on Highway Safety Guideline No.20. The MOHS manages the OPTF as a priority program and includes strategies and targets developed by the OPTF that will be managed and tracked for progress by the MOHS.

Coordination:

The development of the OPSP is a collaboration of all partners of the OPTF. The OPSP coordination process includes:

  • Holding collaboration meetings to share data, information on program and discussion on OP; 
  • Identify common factors through problem identification to find solutions;
  • Determine common trends and common joint goals; and
  • Create collaborative plans to combat joint highway safety issues within the State.

The OPTF corresponds through email, phone calls and strategic planning meetings. The OPTF schedules strategic planning meetings throughout the year, with meetings scheduled for the purpose of program review, discussing OP topics and trends, strategic planning and OPSP approval for inclusion in the 405(b) OP grant application.

Please contact the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety at 601-977-3700 for more information.