INTRODUCTION

TACT Model Description, Timelines and Resources

The purpose of the TACT pilot project was to increase awareness by the driving public about dangerous behaviors around moving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and to reduce the instances of one particular unsafe driving maneuver – cutting off trucks. The pilot demonstration program combined NHTSA’s proven high visibility enforcement model (e.g., Click It or Ticket for safety belts), with FMCSA’s Share the Road Safely education campaign for safe driving around large trucks.

The Figures 5 and 6 below show, respectively, the intervention and organizational timelines for the program. The TACT model includes: 1) data collection before, during and after media and enforcement phases; 2) earned and paid publicity announcing vigorous enforcement; 3) highly visible enforcement each day of the two week enforcement period; and 4) a media event announcing program results and thanking all the participants in the community.

Figure 5. TACT intervention timeline

Funding for the TACT pilot program was provided by NHTSA ($497,000), the WTSC ($117,500), and the FMCSA MCSAP ($100,000) in Fiscal Year 2004. In Fiscal Year 2005, $68,168 from NHTSA hired an evaluator to collect and process data, and an additional $99,000 was directed by Congress and awarded to the WTSC. WTSC provided an additional $10,000 to the program. The FY 2005 funds were used to enhance the media buy during the final enforcement wave. The additional funding was also used to contract with an independent analyst who will conduct follow-up evaluations at six month and one year intervals after project completion.

Figure 6. TACT organizational and planning timeline