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Your Monthly Update
November-December 2025
| | The holiday season is here! As we wrap up the year, travel and celebrations are in full swing, and safety remains our top priority. In this issue of OTS Tracks, we’ll share highlights of how the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and our partners honored victims of traffic violence during World Day of Remembrance, updates on major safety initiatives and campaigns, opportunities to apply for 2027 grant funding, and resources to help keep communities safe during the busy holiday season. | | We're Putting Safety First: $140 Million for Safer Roads | | At the OTS, we’re proud to announce more than $140 million in federal funding for the 2026 federal fiscal year to support nearly 500 local projects across California. These grants will help communities improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, prevent impaired and distracted driving, and expand public education programs. This investment is part of our broader commitment to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries by 30% by 2035, working alongside $14.6 billion in state transportation funding and nearly $5 billion in infrastructure upgrades under the “Build More, Faster” agenda. We’re equipping first responders with life-saving tools, advancing emergency care innovations, and strengthening enforcement programs. Every step we take brings us closer to a transportation system where everyone—whether walking, biking, rolling, or driving—can travel safely. | | World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims | | On November 16, the OTS joined state and local partners in downtown Los Angeles for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The event featured a powerful art installation titled “711 Empty Chairs,” each adorned with a yellow rose to symbolize the 711 lives lost to traffic violence in Los Angeles County over the past year. Families honored loved ones by placing photos, mementos, and remembrance cards on the chairs. Surrounding the display, a “Remembrance Village” offered grief support services and traffic safety resources. The event also launched the Empty Chair Club, an initiative by OTS, Caltrans, Streets Are For Everyone, and the Emily Shane Foundation to raise awareness about the devastating impact of preventable crashes. World Day of Remembrance, observed globally, underscores the urgent need to end traffic fatalities and protect all road users. | | The Empty Chair Club: Honoring Lives Lost to Traffic Violence | | |
The Empty Chair Club is a powerful initiative by the OTS and partners to honor those killed in preventable traffic crashes. In 2023 alone, 4,142 people lost their lives on California roads – each represented by an empty chair and countless missed milestones. The campaign invites families and friends to share stories and photos of loved ones, creating a space for remembrance and awareness. Through these personal tributes, the Empty Chair Club underscores the devastating impact of traffic violence and calls for action to make streets safer. This effort was part of the World Day of Remembrance.
Join us in raising awareness – share your story, upload a photo, and help prevent future tragedies.
| | The OTS 2027 Grant Applications Now Available - Apply by January 31, 2026 | | |
Traffic fatalities and injuries remain a significant problem in California. Do you have ideas to improve traffic safety in your community? The OTS is now accepting grant applications for the 2027 Federal Fiscal Year funding.
Public Entities are eligible to submit applications for funding. 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations need a public entity as a grant host. The application should relate to one of the priority program areas listed below and be supported by local crash data that demonstrates a need for funding.
- Alcohol Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Drug-Impaired Driving
- Emergency Medical Services
- Motorcycle Safety
- Occupant Protection
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
- Police Traffic Services
- Communications and Public Affairs
- Roadway Safety and Traffic Records
Applications must be submitted electronically by January 31, 2026.
| | The OTS Staff: People on the Move | | William Fang – Join us in welcoming William Fang as a System and Security Engineer Specialist in the Information Technology Division. William comes to us from the California Housing Finance Agency, bringing valuable knowledge, skills, and experience in Azure and Microsoft administration, project management, process mapping, change management, and technical support. | | | Kristen Mickey – Join us in welcoming Kristen Mickey as a Traffic Safety Specialist in the Program Planning and Grant Operations Division. Kristen is rejoining the OTS, where she began her career in March 2020 as a Program Coordinator. Most recently, in September 2024, Kristen joined the NHTSA Region 9 team as a Regional Program Manager, overseeing operations in Hawaii. | | |
Annie Vo – Join us in welcoming Annie Vo as a Grant Coordinator in the Program Planning and Grant Operations Division. Annie joins us from the private sector, where she worked in program support and office management, handling project coordination, reporting, customer relations, and administrative operations.
| | | Jack Wright – Join us in welcoming Jack Wright as a Budget Analyst in the Administrative Services Division. Jack comes to us with over 10 years as a Program Analyst at NHTSA, Jack provided training, budgeting, and administrative services for NHTSA Region 9. | | | Safety Snapshot of the Month - Walnut Creek Police Department | | |
Publications, resources, training opportunities, and other relevant updates from our state and national traffic safety partners.
📈 NHTSA Releases Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First 9 Months (January–September) of 2025
New NHTSA early estimates suggest that road fatalities in the first nine months of 2025 have dropped by roughly 6.4% compared with the same period in 2024. View the fact sheet
📘 GHSA, State Farm® Offer New Child Passenger Safety Resource
GHSA and State Farm® have released a new tool to help State Highway Safety Offices more effectively partner with community leaders, Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) and others working to protect kids in motor vehicles. Read the news release
📑 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Releases Traffic Safety Culture Index
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, which examines driver attitudes, self-reported behaviors, and support for evidence-based traffic safety policies. Read the survey
📝 UC Berkeley SafeTREC: Apply today to improve walking, biking, and rolling in your community
Applications are now open for UC Berkeley SafeTREC’s 2026 programs. Programming includes: the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (CPBSP), the Complete Streets Safety Assessment (CSSA) programs and the California Safe System Institute for Road Safety. Learn more and apply
| | 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. | | 46th Annual Farmworker Appreciation Breakfast – On December 5, the OTS participated in the 46th Annual Farmworker Appreciation Breakfast in Calexico, celebrating the contributions of farmworkers in the region. This event was an opportunity to connect directly with farmworker communities, share traffic safety resources, and raise awareness about critical issues such as impaired driving, pedestrian safety, and safe driving behaviors. Partnering with the Employment Development Department (EDD), the Mexican Consulate, and the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) created a collaborative and trusted atmosphere, enabling us to engage and uplift community safety efforts. | | | “Know Your Limit” Outreach Event – On December 18, The OTS, in partnership with Caltrans, ABC, CHP, DMV, AAA, and the Sacramento Police Department, hosted a “Know Your Limit” education outreach event to remind people about the dangers of impaired driving during the holiday season. The outreach took place at local bars and restaurants, where officers engaged patrons in conversations about responsible drinking and offered voluntary breath tests to demonstrate blood alcohol content levels. The goal of Know Your Limit is to help individuals understand their limits before getting behind the wheel and prevent DUI-related crashes. This initiative is part of OTS’s broader effort to reduce impaired driving fatalities, which remain a leading cause of traffic deaths statewide. Read the news release | | |
📌 Now through January 1: Holiday Season Impaired Driving Enforcement
📌 January 1: New Year’s Day
📌 February 8: Super Bowl Sunday
Keep an eye on your inboxes for campaign templates and social media assets. Additional outreach materials are always available at GoSafelyCA.org/MediaToolkits.
Check out what’s new:
| | 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). | | |
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OTS Communications and Public Affairs
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