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Your Monthly Update
October 2023
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Office of Traffic Safety Awards Record Amount of Grant Funding to Make Roads Safer in California | |
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Taking advantage of significant, historic investments in federal highway safety program funding, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) earlier this month awarded approximately $127.3 million for 442 grants, the largest in OTS history.
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 projects funded by the OTS:
- Approximately $73.6 million for law enforcement agencies to conduct enforcement and education programs targeting traffic safety issues.
- Approximately $2.2 million for University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) to fund more than two dozen walking/biking safety assessments and trainings to implement infrastructure solutions that improve active transportation.
- Approximately $1.7 million for Los Angeles Emergency Medical Services Agency to further advance post-crash care safety outcomes through a trauma training mobile application.
- $202,692 for Contra Costa County Public Health to train city officials on advancing the Safe System Approach to empower policy adoption and implementation.
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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NHTSA Estimates Traffic Deaths Declined Nationally and in California the First Half of 2023 | |
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Traffic fatalities in California for the first half of this year declined 12% from the same period last year, and decreased 3.3% overall on our nation’s roads, according to the latest estimates released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An estimated 19,515 people died in car crashes throughout the country, a decrease from 20,190 traffic deaths in the first half of 2022.
“While we are encouraged to see traffic fatalities continue to decline from the height of the pandemic, there’s still significantly more work to be done,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said. “NHTSA is addressing traffic safety in many ways, including new rulemakings for lifesaving vehicle technologies and increased Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for state highway safety offices. We will continue to work with our safety partners to meet the collective goal of zero fatalities.”
In California, an estimated 2,061 people were killed in car crashes the first six months of this year, a 12% decrease from 2,341 over the same period last year. NHTSA estimates California is one of 29 states with reported decreases in traffic deaths.
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OTS, AAA Host California Traffic Safety Summit | |
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The OTS and AAA are teaming up to collaborate with other traffic safety stakeholders on how to address the ongoing roadway safety crisis, and the future of traffic safety. Join highway safety, public health, law enforcement and business leaders Nov. 7-8 in Orange County for the California Traffic Safety Summit.
The summit theme, “Responding to the Crisis Together: Prioritizing Safety and Equitable Outcomes,” affirms the importance of prioritizing safety initiatives and engaging and involving communities in implementing proven and innovative solutions for preventing crashes. Workshops will focus on vulnerable road users, impaired driving, equity in transportation safety, and other traffic safety priorities.
To register and learn more about the California Traffic Safety Summit, visit the registration page.
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Equity Corner: Prioritizing Health Equity in Vision Zero Planning | |
The number of communities committing to Vision Zero—the goal of eliminating roadway deaths and severe injuries—is growing across the U.S. As road deaths reach crisis levels in the U.S., Vision Zero Network developed a new resource, Prioritizing Health Equity in Vision Zero Planning, that shares actionable steps and examples to align Vision Zero work with meaningful advancements toward safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all. | |
Grantee Highlight: Walk and Roll to School Day Highlights Need for Safe Routes for Students | |
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On Oct. 4, OTS partners across the state celebrated the 27th annual “Walk and Roll to School Day” to highlight the health benefits of walking to school and practice pedestrian and road safety. This annual event, celebrated in schools across the United States, advocates for walking, cycling, and using alternative forms of transportation to get to school.
“Walk and Roll to School Day” encourages parents to explore alternative transportation methods, like walking or biking, which can significantly reduce traffic congestion and pollution around schools. This day also emphasizes the importance of teaching children safe walking, biking and scootering behaviors by encouraging parents, teachers, and schools to educate children about traffic rules, crossing streets safely, and using helmets while cycling. It’s also an important reminder for drivers to slow down in school zones and to always be on the lookout for kids who are walking and biking. This focus on safety is crucial for creating safe routes for students to get to school.
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IIHS: New Ways to Measure Driver Cellphone Use Could Yield Better Data | |
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Two new studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggest that roadside cameras and GPS data could provide a more complete picture of driver cellphone use. Observers using photographs taken with roadside cameras were almost as reliable as in-person monitors at identifying drivers who were using their cellphones. Another demonstrated that the cell phone data collected by the safe-driver mobile apps that are gaining ground in the insurance industry could provide more details about when and how drivers are using their devices.
In 2021, the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) indicated a slight decrease (0.1 percent) of drivers talking on cell phone devices, going from 2.6 percent in 2020 to 2.5 percent in 2021. Information about cellphone-related crashes is limited and underreported, as drivers are reluctant to tell police officers that they were distracted by their phones. GPS and on-board diagnostic programs could provide real-time information about when and how drivers are using their cellphones. That would give researchers and policymakers a much clearer picture of the connection between cellphone-based distraction and crash risk.
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Governor Newsom Announces Appointments | |
The OTS is excited to share the recent appointments for the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Congratulations to Joseph, Susan and Matt!
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Joseph McCullough, of Wilton, has been appointed Director of the ABC. McCullough has been Chief Deputy Director at the ABC since 2020 and has served in several roles there since 2001, including Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief, District Administrator, Supervising Agent and Agent.
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Matt Rocco, of Sacramento, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of Public Affairs at Caltrans. Rocco has been Acting Assistant Deputy Director of Public Affairs at Caltrans since 2022, where he served in multiple positions in Public Affairs since 2006, including Division Chief, Office Chief, Media Relations Manager and Information Officer.
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Susan R. Sommercamp, of Rocklin, has been appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary at CalSTA. Sommercamp has been Policy Advisor and Speechwriter to the Secretary at CalSTA since 2022. She was Speechwriter to the Caltrans Director from 2020 to 2022.
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Traffic Safety Resources: NHTSA Behavioral Research | |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies behaviors and attitudes in highway safety, focusing on drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. NHTSA identifies and measures behaviors involved in crashes or associated with injuries, and develops and refines countermeasures to deter unsafe behaviors and promote safe alternatives. You can find recently published reports and research notes on a variety of topics on their website. | |
The 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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OTS Marketing and Public Affairs
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