ELK GROVE, Calif. – Leveraging significant, once-in-a-generation transportation investments, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) today announced it has awarded approximately $108.5 million in federal funds for 373 grants to expand safe walking and biking options and provide key education and enforcement programs that make roads safer.

“These historic levels of highway safety funds will support comprehensive and effective traffic safety measures, as well as bolder, transformative approaches that will collectively help save lives,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “We are in an incredible position to invest in our highest traffic safety priorities so that every Californian can go safely.”

The federal funds come from the multiyear Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and are made available to states and U.S. territories by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to identify current and future traffic safety needs.

The OTS funding marks a nearly 15% increase in awards from the previous federal fiscal year and is on top of the state’s $47 billion multiyear infrastructure package, which provides an additional $1.05 billion for active transportation projects to expand safe walking and biking options.

The OTS grant programs fund hundreds of agencies and non-profits throughout the state in the areas of alcohol and drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, seat belts and child safety seats, bicycle and pedestrian safety, emergency medical services, police traffic services and traffic records.\

Among the programs funded by the OTS:

• $8.68 million dedicated to improving the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians. Funding supports programs such as local walking tours, bicycle/pedestrian safety training, community bike rides and bicycle training courses that encourage safe routes to ride.
• $49.8 million for police traffic services to deter, prevent and stop dangerous and illegal driving behaviors such as alcohol and drug-impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving.
• $36.77 million for statewide prosecutor training network and dedicated prosecutors managing DUI cases, treatment programs for people convicted of DUI, and education programs for teens and the public on the dangers of impaired driving.
• $4.4 million for child passenger safety seat programs that provide classes, training, educational resources and car seats for parents and caregivers in need.

The grant programs run through September 2023.

The OTS awards grants based on identifiable traffic safety problems, proposed strategies to improve the safety of roads, as well as proven measures taken to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

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About California Office of Traffic Safety

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) administers traffic safety grants that deliver innovative programs and help to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries on California roads. The OTS grant programs identify and address a variety of behavioral issues that impact traffic safety such as alcohol and drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, seat belts and child safety seats, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. To learn more about the OTS, visit ots.ca.gov and gosafelyca.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @OTS_CA and @GoSafelyCA, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS and www.facebook.com/GoSafelyCA.

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