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Press Release

GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS DISTRIBUTED $75.7 MILLION IN
TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA IN 2001

SACRAMENTO

Business, Transportation & Housing Agency Secretary Maria Contreras-Sweet announced today that the California Office of Traffic Safety awarded $75.7 million in 2001 to fight alcohol- and drug-related driving dangers, passenger protection, pedestrian and bicycle safety, maintain traffic records, enhance emergency medical services, roadway safety, police traffic services, motorcycle safety and speed control.

“As California’s Secretary of Transportation and as a mother, I am dedicated to helping Governor Davis provide traffic safety professionals with the support they need to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads and highways,” said Secretary Contreras-Sweet. “This statewide grant initiative provides significant funding for hundreds of traffic safety programs in regional and local communities that guarantee a safer environment for all drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Local agencies throughout the state received 161 traffic safety grants. These grantees, awarded more than $31 million in funding implemented critical enforcement, education and awareness building programs to reduce high-risk driving behavior and increase compliance with traffic safety laws.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) received 11 grants this year totaling more than $11.8 million. CBOs take traffic safety messages directly to the communities they serve, which are often those most at risk. CBO programs include educational and awareness campaigns about driving under the influence and bicycle, pedestrian and child passenger safety.

For example, in 2001, local law enforcement received more than $16.1 million for 43 grant programs ranging from DUI prevention to seat belt campaigns to improve upon California’s already impressive traffic safety record. This year, California earned the nation’s only “A” grade from the National Safety Council for the highest safety belt use-rate in the country at 88.9 percent.

Forty-two traffic safety grants totaling $17.8 million were awarded to local organizations to implement child passenger safety education programs, occupant protection awareness campaigns and bicycle safety events. This year, those efforts included educating the public about California’s new booster seat legislation, signed by Governor Davis, which takes effect January 1, 2002. The law requires that children be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint system (safety seat or booster seat) until they are at least six years old or weigh 60 pounds. California currently has the highest seat belt use rate in the nation at 91.1 percent and is one of the first states to implement booster seat legislation.

All grants are administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to help improve and resolve traffic safety-related issues.

 

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