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Press Release

GOVERNOR DAVIS ANNOUNCES $24.4 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gray Davis today announced 142 grants designed to improve traffic safety in California through a variety of local and statewide programs. The funds, totaling $24.4 million, will be distributed to cities, counties, and state departments.

"California is a national leader when it comes to driver safety," Governor Davis said. "Funding for these critical traffic safety programs is key to creating safer communities.".

The newly funded grants include community-based organization outreach, occupant protection, roadway safety, alcohol and other drugs, emergency medical services, police traffic services, pedestrian and bicycle safety. The grants will lend support to Governor Davis' Traffic Congestion Relief Plan, which was introduced last year.

Of the $24.4 million in grants, approximately $1.9 million has been allocated to Northern California, $2.5 million to the Bay area, $804,000 to the Central Coast, $1.2 million to Central California, $1.1 million to the Inland Empire, $2.8 million to Los Angeles/Orange counties, $700,000 to San Diego/Imperial counties, and $13.4 million for statewide programs.

Governor Davis also noted that California recently earned the nation's only "A" grade by the National Safety Council for the highest seat belt use-rate in the country. In February, California received the only "A" among all 50 states for its child occupant protection laws. To date, California has the highest child safety seat use rate in the nation at 92.6 percent.

The California Office of Traffic Safety will administer the grants through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to help improve and resolve traffic safety-related issues. The $24 million includes a concentrated effort among numerous grants to educate the public about correct child safety seat usage, including California's new booster seat legislation, signed by Governor Davis, which takes full effect in January 2002.

Please link below to regional and statewide grants:

2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards

2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Northern California
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to San Francisco Bay Area
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Central Coast
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Central California
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Inland Empire
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Los Angeles and Orange Counties
2002 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Southern Border
2002 Statewide Grants

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