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Your Monthly Update
July 2025
| | As summer travel ramps up, we’re staying focused on safety. This month’s updates include highlights from a recent cross-collaboration holiday campaign, law enforcement events, community outreach, fresh data, and a big win for creative safety education. | | California and Nevada Join Forces for Fourth of July Safety Campaign | | Over the 4th of July holiday weekend, travelers across California and Nevada may have noticed safety messages lighting up their social media feeds encouraging people to drive safe and sober. From Lake Tahoe to Reno, Victorville to the Las Vegas Strip, the California and Nevada Offices of Traffic Safety, California Highway Patrol (CHP), and California Department of Transportation joined forces on a high-impact campaign urging people to celebrate responsibly by not driving under the influence. The collaborative push was more than a public awareness effort, but a coordinated strategy to reduce impaired driving crashes during a historically high-risk time. During this year’s 4th of July weekend, CHP officers made 1,311 DUI arrests over 78 hours, or one arrest nearly every 17 minutes. “This campaign demonstrates the power of partnership,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “When neighboring states share both a roadway network and a public safety mission, collaboration becomes essential.” The campaign targeted these high-traveled areas known for holiday getaways and coincided with the CHP and Nevada State Police Maximum Enforcement Periods. | | OTS Director Joins MADD to Recognize DUI Enforcement Leaders | | The OTS Director, Stephanie Dougherty, had the honor of speaking at several of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Recognition Awards events that took place across the state from May through the end of July. Hosted by MADD, these events honor law enforcement officers and agencies who demonstrate exceptional commitment to preventing impaired driving. Held at locations throughout California, the ceremonies recognize law enforcement, prosecutors and other public safety professionals for their unwavering commitment to make roads safer. “The OTS remains steadfast in our support of law enforcement to target dangerous driving behaviors like impaired driving,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “We are committed to amplifying the work of prosecutors and investigators that effectively manage cases through every step of the criminal process.” While impaired driving remains a leading cause of traffic fatalities, events like these serve as an important reminder of the real impact dedicated officers have on roadway safety. | | OTS Hosts Law Enforcement Forum | | |
The OTS recently hosted its Law Enforcement Forum in San Diego, bringing together more than 300 law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, toxicologists, and researchers. The forum served as a valuable opportunity for attendees to discuss today’s most pressing traffic safety challenges and share evidence-based strategies to address them. Attendees heard from leading voices, including California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin and CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. With collaboration at the center of every session, the event reinforced a shared commitment to making California’s roads safer for everyone.
The OTS also recognized 10 officers with Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Awards for their work taking suspected impaired drivers off California roads and for making an impact on the success of California’s DRE program.
Top 5 Officers with Highest Amounts of DRE Evaluations in California
- Constantine Zachos, San Francisco Police Department
- Nicholas Escamilla, Los Angeles Police Department
- Engelbert Castaneda, Los Angeles Police Department
- Tristan Perusse, California Highway Patrol
- Frank Cavalluzzi, Los Angeles Police Department
Outstanding Contribution
- Kasey Banuelos, California Highway Patrol
- Matt Ellis, Anaheim Police Department
- Alicia McLaughlin, Chula Vista Police Department
Lifetime Contribution
- Michael R. Teixeira, California Highway Patrol (Retired)
- Kevin S. Craig, California Highway Patrol (Retired)
Thank you to all the officers for their unwavering commitment to keeping our roads safe!
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The University of California San Diego’s Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS) Center is celebrating big news. Their educational video, The Distraction Zone, won Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter, in both categories for which it was nominated:
- Informational/Instructional – Short or Long Form Content
- Director – Long Form Content
Inspired by the classic series The Twilight Zone, the video brings a stylized, narrative-driven approach to exploring the risks and realities of distracted driving. It's part of an online course offered through TREDS, developed to support safe driving habits.
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OTS Staff:
People On The Move
| | Maria McKnight – Join us in welcoming Maria McKnight as an Accounting Officer in the Administrative Services Division. Maria brings valuable experience from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), where she handled invoice processing, direct transfers, and variance resolution while ensuring compliance with the State Controller’s Office (SCO) guidelines. Prior to CalSTRS, she worked at the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). | | | Elisa Ramirez – Join us in welcoming Elisa Ramirez as a Community Engagement Coordinator in the Communications and Public Affairs Division. Previously, Elisa led the Education and Outreach Unit at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (OEIS). She also worked at the Monitor Advocate Office (MAO), where she was entrusted with planning, training, and coordinating the Migrant and Seasonal Outreach Program. | | | Angela DaPrato – Join us in congratulating Angela DaPrato on her appointment to a Community Engagement Coordinator in the Communications and Public Affairs Division. Angela first joined the OTS in November 2022 and served as the Communications and Outreach Specialist. Angela joined the OTS from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 3 in Marysville, where she served as one of the lead public information officers (PIOs) for projects in the Sacramento area, including the “FixSac99” project. | | | Safety Snapshot of the Month | | The OTS team joined safety partners Long Beach Health and Human Services and Long Beach Police Department for a pop-up event featuring informational resources and interactive activities on drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. | | |
Publications, resources, training opportunities, and other relevant updates from our state and national traffic safety partners.
📈 GHSA Releases 2024 Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities
The Governors Highway Safety Association’s new data analysis, Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data, provides a first look at pedestrian safety trends and changes in fatalities at the state level, building upon a report GHSA issued earlier this year that focused on fatalities for January-June. Read the report.
📈 NHTSA Releases Early Estimate of Traffic Fatalities for 1st Quarter of 2025
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new data estimating a notable decrease in people killed in crashes in the first three months of 2025. View the data.
📈 NHTSA Releases 2023 Speeding Data
The NHTSA released speeding-related data for 2023 as part of its Speeding Catches Up With You national prevention campaign. In California, there were 1,303 people killed in speeding-related traffic crashes in 2023 – a decrease of 7.1% from 2022. View the data.
📝 California Traffic Safety Survey 2025
Find out what Californians think about traffic safety in the state. The 2025 Traffic Safety Public Opinion Study was conducted for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center of UC Berkeley (SafeTREC). Read the study.
📑 IIHS Study Examines Impaired Driving Deaths
A national mental health crisis and reductions in policing may have helped fuel an increase in impaired-driving deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the role of more liberal alcohol policies was unclear, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows. Read the study.
🎙️ GHSA Introduces “The Intersection” Podcast
In the “Intersection,” GHSA CEO Jonathan Adkins brings together interesting, influential people to discuss the big issues we face every day through the lens of roadway safety. "The Intersection" is where it happens. Learn more about the podcast.
| | The OTS participates in community outreach and engagement events to connect with residents, local partners, and stakeholders to share information, gather feedback and encourage Californians to Go Safely. These events provide valuable opportunities to build relationships, support local initiatives and ensure our traffic safety efforts are informed by the voices and needs of the communities we serve. | | Regional Safety Day – On Saturday, June 7, the OTS joined thousands of families, first responders, and safety advocates at the Regional Safety Day hosted by the Cosumnes Fire Department and Elk Grove Police Department in Elk Grove, California. With more than 2,000 people in attendance, the event offered a full day of interactive activities, demonstrations, and resources all centered on public safety. The OTS booth welcomed community members of all ages to learn more about key traffic safety topics, including distracted driving, the Move Over and Be Work Zone Alert law, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. | | |
Juneteenth Freedom Celebration – On Saturday, June 21, the OTS joined the community in Antioch, California, for a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration hosted by Grace Bible Fellowship. The OTS team was proud to take part in the day’s festivities, welcoming more than 500 attendees to the Go Safely, CA booth. Community members stopped by to learn about critical traffic safety topics like distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and work zone awareness. The event also provided an opportunity to connect with the community and hear directly about traffic safety concerns.
Safe Kids Day – On Saturday, July 19, the OTS joined Safe Kids Alameda County for the 11th Annual Safe Kids Day at the Oakland Arena. More than 1,400 people attended – adults, teens and children! The OTS talked with families about bicycle and pedestrian safety and provided traffic safety resources. We were just one of 74 vendors who provided families in attendance with resources, health education, and safety equipment. During the event, 326 booster seats were distributed and 500 bike helmets were provided to kids in need.
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📌 August 1-30: Back-to-School Safety Month
📌 August 3-9: National Stop on Red Week
📌 August 13 – September 1: National Summer Mobilization
📌 September 1-30: California Pedestrian Safety Month
📌 September 21-27: National Child Passenger Safety Week
📌 September 27: National Seat Check Saturday
Keep an eye on your inboxes for campaign templates and social media assets. Additional outreach materials are always available at GoSafelyCA.org/MediaToolkits.
| | The OTS administers traffic safety grants that deliver traffic safety programs to prevent people from being killed and seriously injured in California. The OTS is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). | | |
Copyright © 2025
OTS Communications and Public Affairs
All Rights Reserved
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