Your Monthly Update
October 2020
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GHSA Recommends Steps to Promote Equality, Social Justice in Traffic Enforcement |
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The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) announced a series of recommendations for law enforcement agencies to implement social justice reforms while recognizing the important role of officers in reducing crashes, injuries and deaths on roads.
"No highway safety program can survive without public trust," GHSA said in a statement on Sept. 23. "The law enforcement community is not exempt from the bias, prejudice and racism that have a long history in our nation."
GHSA is a non-profit association based in Washington, D.C. that represents state highway safety offices and provides best practices to transportation safety leaders.
The recommendations made by GHSA for achieving justice include:
- Ensure agency demographics are reflective of the communities they serve.
- Support for initiatives to collect and report standardized data about race in traffic enforcement, encouraging research to more effectively collect and analyze this data that can be used for highway safety planning and law enforcement grant funding decisions.
- Develop a framework to require law enforcement grant sub-recipients to take steps to eliminate bias in traffic stops, reform policies on use of force and officer intervention, when necessary.
- Prioritize and utilize input from minorities, low-income communities and all others impacted by highway safety planning.
While GHSA encouraged reforms for states to implement to achieve justice, they emphasized that enforcement is still an important component to traffic safety.
When it comes to traffic enforcement, GHSA recommended steps departments should take:
- Development and evaluation of public safety programs or technologies that can supplement existing traffic enforcement.
- Rather than remove traffic enforcement from the highway safety equation, provide more investment in social and criminal justice programs to prevent recidivism, particularly among impaired drivers.
- Investment in empathy, stress management, early warning systems and mental health programs for officers.
- Accountability at all levels of government for police officers who have violated public trust.
"We continue to support the proven role of traffic enforcement and the wider criminal justice system to prevent crashes, deaths and injuries; stop dangerous driving; and hold drivers accountable for poor, often deadly, choices," GHSA said.
"Racism has no place in traffic enforcement," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. "I'm encouraged by the GHSA recommendations and the recent actions taken by our Legislature and Governor Newsom to address needed policing reform."
"The OTS will continue to evaluate its grant-funded programs and drive changes where necessary, to ensure they are equitable and serving the needs of all Californians, including people of color and disadvantaged communities," Director Rooney said.
"For this truly to be a period of reform and improvement, we commit to a long-term look at our practices and what highway safety offices individually and collectively can do to ensure fair and equitable traffic enforcement," GHSA said.
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The OTS Awards More Than $90 Million in Grant Funding |
The 2021 federal fiscal year is here! The OTS is excited to work with hundreds of grantees, with nearly $94 million in funding for 420 grants.
“The funding will go toward efforts aimed at preventing deaths and serious injuries on our roadways,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Our road safety problems are clear. We must work toward improving roadway safety for everyone by changing behaviors to ensure every person, regardless of how they travel, goes safely.”
The grants are part of the OTS Highway Safety Plan (HSP), which serves as a roadmap for addressing the biggest traffic safety challenges.
Among the traffic safety programs the OTS grants will fund include:
- Collaborative efforts with neighboring police/sheriff’s departments to address traffic safety priorities, including alcohol and drug-impaired driving prevention, the hands-free cell phone law, bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and primary actions that cause crashes.
- Officer training in the detection of alcohol and/or drug impairment.
- A statewide prosecutor training network for managing DUI cases and treatment programs for DUI offenders.
- Child safety seat programs that educate the public on the proper use of child safety seats.
- Teen and older adult education programs on safe road behaviors.
- Development or enhancement of crash data collection and reporting.
- Community walks and workshops to look at ways to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, with special emphasis around public transit hubs and areas with higher bicycle/pedestrian traffic.
- Bike “labs” that provide tools, equipment and other resources for the public to learn how to perform pre-ride safety checks, helmet fittings and regular bike maintenance, and understand the rules of the road.
- New, specialized equipment that assists first responders in rescuing crash victims.
Grants are awarded 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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CDC Discourages Trick-or-Treating
on Halloween
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Halloween trick-or-treating is going to look much different this year.
In a pattern of anticipated changes to fall and winter holiday celebrations beginning with Halloween, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance for the holidays amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The traditional celebrations of door-to-door trick-or-treating, haunted houses and costume parties are discouraged due to the pandemic.
"Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses," the agency said in its posting. "There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween."
The CDC guidance focuses on avoiding activities that increase the risk of spreading the virus, listing low-risk, moderate and higher risk activities.
Low-risk activities include:
- Pumpkin carving
- Decorating your home
- Outdoor scavenger hunts
- Virtual costume contests
Moderate-risk activities include:
- One-way trick-or-treating, such as goody bags left for pick-up at the end of a yard or driveway.
- Outdoor costume parties or parades where masks are worn and people social distance.
- Visiting pumpkin patches.
The state of California is working on their own guidelines, but acknowledged last month that kids should not expect Halloween to be the way it was in the past.
Many counties have issued their own guidance, including Sacramento County, which encouraged the use of a face covering while trick-or-treating and only with members of the same household. The county also suggested residents be prepared for trick-or-treaters and keep it outdoors, using tongs to hand out candy or put a bowl of candy and hand sanitizer at the end of the driveway.
The same CDC guidelines apply to Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, discouraging large indoor gatherings and dinner parties.
While this holiday season will not be like any other, it is still important for families who are out to be safe.
"Traffic safety never takes a holiday," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. "We will continue to provide tips and resources for the public to keep safety top of mind when celebrating the holidays."
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New "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" Serves as Roadmap for Reopening |
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The state of California is now using a color tier system to determine which businesses may open and how they can operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is assisting licensees with meeting state directives regarding the sale of alcohol on licensed premises.
With the exception of wineries, the issue is whether the licensed business serves a bona fide meal or not, the ABC said. If no meals are served, then the licensed business may operate under the requirements established for "Bars, Breweries and Distilleries," based on the tier of the county they are in. If meals are served, then licensed businesses may operate under the requirements established for "Restaurants."
The tiers (1 through 4) are determined by the number of daily new COVID-19 cases and the positivity rate in each county:
- Tier 1 (Purple) - Widespread
- Tier 2 (Red) - Substantial
- Tier 3 (Orange) - Moderate
- Tier 4 (Yellow) - Minimal
The ABC also cautions licensees to be aware of any additional restrictions by local public health directives, which apply if local rules are stricter than the state directives. You can find the status of activities by county online.
Since COVID-19 related closures started in March, the ABC has adopted regulatory relief for on-sale licenses that allow them to continue to operate while also meeting health directives.
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41 Deaths Tied to E-Scooters, E-Bikes and Hoverboards Over Past 3 Years |
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The safety of e-scooters and e-bikes is at a crossroads.
The number of deaths and injuries from the devices continues to take a toll, a new study released last month by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found.
At least 41 people were killed and about 133,000 injured between 2017 and 2019 while riding e-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards, with e-scooters accounting for much of the deaths and injuries.
The number of ER visits related to e-scooter injuries rose to 27,700 in 2019, almost double the nearly 15,000 visits reported the year before.
Part of the "micro-mobility" movement, e-scooters and e-bikes gained popularity the past few years with rental companies like Lime and Bird renting them out by the thousands in cities across the country, including many California beach cities like San Francisco, Santa Monica and San Diego.
While the pandemic paused ridership for months, the easing of stay-at-home restrictions and the resistance to ride with other people on public transit is making e-scooters and e-bikes an increasingly popular transportation option.
"Shared micro-mobility is here to stay," OTS Director Barbara Rooney. "As travel patterns evolve and shift, it is important to address the safety of those who ride e-scooters and e-bikes."
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October 5-12 is Distracted Driving Awareness Week |
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A national distracted driving awareness campaign will run from October 5-12.
April is typically California's Distracted Driving Awareness Month, but activities were postponed to this month as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From October 8-12, law enforcement agencies nationwide will increase patrols with an emphasis on citing drivers who violate hands-free cell phone laws, which are on the books in 22 states including California.
"Education and enforcement efforts drive behavior changes," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. "The dangers of not paying attention to the road are obvious. It's a matter of effecting changes in habits."
Distracted driving continues to be a problem in California, particularly among teens: 10% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in deadly crashes were distracted at the time of the crash.
Last year, the CHP issued nearly 20,000 tickets during the month of April to drivers violating the state's hands-free cell phone law.
Distracted driving remains a challenge both in addressing behaviors and collecting crash data, and the public agrees it's a serious issue.
According to an online survey conducted this year by the OTS, University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC), and Ewaid and Wasserman Research Consultants, 75.1% of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving because of TEXTING” as their biggest safety concern.
"There's more work to be done on the distracted driving front," Director Rooney said."The OTS is committed to creating a safety culture where putting the phone away while driving becomes second nature."
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Zoox is Latest to be Issued Driverless Testing Permit by DMV |
The Foster City, Calif. based automated vehicle technology start-up is now authorized to test driverless vehicles on public roads. This is not on all roads, but a designated area of Foster City with a speed limit of no more than 45 miles per hour.
Zoox is the fourth driverless application approved by the DMV.
Zoox has had a permit to test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers, but the new permit allows the company to test two driverless vehicles without a driver. The vehicles are approved to run in fair weather conditions such as light rain and fog.
"We are still learning about the capabilities and potential of autonomous vehicles," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. "Autonomous vehicles will no doubt be a game changer to our transportation system. It is why it is important to understand how they can safely interact and coexist on roads."
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MIT Study: Tesla Drivers Not Paying Attention Using Autopilot Feature |
Tesla drivers who use what the company calls a "semi-autonomous" Autopilot feature are more distracted, a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found.
According to MIT researchers,
33% of Tesla drivers did not have their hands on the wheel prior to taking control of the car.
Tesla's Autopilot technology steers the car, helps it stay in its lane and keep up with traffic. However, the vehicle is not fully autonomous. Drivers are supposed to keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and be prepared to take control.
But the study found drivers looked away from the road more often, and paid less attention when Autopilot was engaged.
The company has made headlines when videos surfaced of Teslas seemingly driving themselves, with a driver's hands off the wheel, even appearing to be asleep.
The AutoPilot feature has also been cited as a factor in multiple high-profile deadly crashes.
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The OTS Launches Photo Contest Promoting Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety |
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The OTS is asking bike riders and those out for a walk to show us how they safely enjoy the outdoors for a chance to win a laptop!
The photo contest began Sept. 28, and all California residents 18 or older are eligible to participate.
“From wearing a helmet to sporting a reflective vest, we are excited to see where you are going and how you are staying safe on your trip,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “So send us a picture before heading out or make a selfie pit stop along the way.”
A total of five winners will be selected and receive a laptop, provided courtesy of iHeart Media.
Entries will be judged based on proper use of safety equipment, clarity of pedestrian and/or bicycle safety methods, relevance of photos, as well as creativity, originality and artistic quality.
Entries will be accepted until Oct. 23, with winners announced Oct. 30 on the “Go Safely, California” website.
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OTS Employee Spotlight:
New Traffic Records Program Manager
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Randy Weissman is the new Traffic Records Program Manager for the OTS. In his new role, Weissman will oversee California's efforts to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the state's traffic safety data.
Weissman will work collaboratively with a variety of traffic safety partners to improve data collection and reporting statewide and nationally.
"Randy brings a wealth of experience and comprehensive understanding of California's traffic records and systems," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. "High quality data is critical and informs our actions on how to best address our road safety problems."
Weissman has been with the OTS since 2014, serving as Chief Deputy of Operations. Prior to the OTS, he held multiple positions at Caltrans: Assistant Division Chief, Office of Disciplinary Services; Assistant Division Chief, Safety and Learning Development; Office Chief, Learning and Development; and Office Chief, Health and Safety. Weissman also worked for the State Compensation Insurance Fund for more than 10 years.
Weissman earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Organizational Systems Management from California State University, Northridge.
"The traffic records program is new for 2021 and I am excited for the challenging tasks ahead to develop and enhance traffic reporting systems," Weissman said. "The quicker we are able to collect and report data, the faster we can take action to improve the safety of roads."
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This is a difficult time for all of us and we are in need of good news. Here is how our grantees are bringing care, joy and happiness to the communities they serve. |
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Two Solano CHP Officers Help
Save Life of 7-Year-Old
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Two CHP officers saved a boy's life thanks to their quick action last month.
According to CHP Solano, Officer Barawed and Officer Hardman were at a fruit stand in Dixon when a vehicle stopped in front of their patrol car.
A mother rushed her unconscious 7-year-old boy to the officers, frantically asking for help because he wasn't breathing.
The officers called an ambulance and found the child was not breathing and had no pulse, CHP Solano said.
"The officers performed CPR until the arrival of emergency medical personnel," CHP Solano said in a Facebook post. "During that time officers were able to get a pulse and the child began breathing."
The child was taken to Kaiser Vacaville, where the officers came by later to check on him. Well done CHP Solano!
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Newark Police Officer Recognized For Efforts to Curb Impaired Driving |
Some major kudos are in order for Officer Slavazza with the Newark Police Department.
She is being recognized by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for her efforts in DUI enforcement.
Thank you Officer Slavazza for keeping Newark safe!
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"It's Me, Mario!" Rocklin Police Officer Reenacts Mario Kart Game |
A Rocklin police officer brings the game of Mario Kart to life while responding to a vandalism call.
“Officers Platina and Guillermo were dispatched to one of our local schools regarding a possible vandalism call, involving juveniles with neon lights playing on the blacktop,” the Rocklin Police Department wrote on Facebook Sept. 3. “After determining it was some of our community members playing Go Kart basketball, Officer Guillermo decided to join in on the fun and reenact one of his favorite childhood video games, Mario Kart!”
Mario Kart is a series of popular go-kart-style racing games by Nintendo.
In this case, Officer Guillermo was "patrolling" in a much smaller vehicle with lights.
"...The relationship with our community is what fuels our officers day in and day out, so if you see us out there, please feel free to say hello!" the Rocklin Police Department said in the Facebook post.
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LOOKING AHEAD
October 7: Walk to School Day
October 8-12: Distracted Driving National Enforcement Mobilization (moved from April)
October 18-24: National Teen Driver Safety Week
October 31: Halloween Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving Enforcement
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The California OTS administers traffic safety grants that deliver innovative programs and strives to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries on California roadways. The OTS is a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). |
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Contact the OTS Marketing & Public Affairs Team
916-509-3030
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Copyright © 2020
OTS Marketing and Public Affairs
All Rights Reserved
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