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Press Release

GOVERNOR DAVIS AWARDS $2.6 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gray Davis today announced the award of 37 traffic safety grants totaling $2.6 million for Northern California communities. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) will administer the grants through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to help improve and resolve traffic safety related issues on area streets and highways.

"California continues to raise the bar on traffic safety, particularly when it comes to the use of seat belts and child safety seats," Governor Davis said. "Funding for these comprehensive traffic safety programs will enable California to maintain that momentum as well as address those traffic safety issues that continue to be a challenge in a state as large and diverse as California."

In addition to the Northern California grants, Governor Davis announced the award of 145 other grants across California, totaling $30.3 million statewide.

The newly funded grants include occupant protection, alcohol and other drugs, emergency medical services, police traffic services, bicycle/pedestrian education programs, traffic records, roadway safety, and outreach to community-based organizations throughout California.

As alcohol-related injuries and fatalities in California increased by four percent between 1999 and 2000, the funding includes a concentrated effort among numerous grants to deter impaired driving. Programs will also include an emphasis on improving California's already impressive occupant protection record.

"Although California enjoys one of the nation's highest seat belt use rate at 91.1 percent, as well as the highest child safety seat use rate at 87.6 percent, that doesn't mean it's time to lessen our efforts in this area," stated Governor Davis. "By doing even better, we can prevent the loss of life and prevent injuries."

Following are selected examples of local organizations scheduled to receive funds. (Please see attachment for a complete listing of Northern California grants). Grant amounts are in parentheses:

Sacramento County Department of Health/Human Services ($250,000) will implement a countywide, comprehensive child passenger safety program focusing on education and training to increase proper use of child safety seats and raise community awareness. The program will include collaboration with the California Highway Patrol, Greater Sacramento SAFE KIDS Coalition and community-based agencies serving Hispanic, Asian and Russian speaking families with young children.

Marysville Police Department ($56,926) will oversee the Regional Impaired Driver Task Force, a collaborative effort involving multi-jurisdictional agencies with the goal of reducing alcohol-involved traffic collisions by 20 percent. The project will include a strong enforcement element with task force members manning DUI patrols and conducting DUI checkpoints in the Yuba-Sutter area.

Butte County Fire Rescue ($107,500) will improve the EMS delivery system in the County of Butte and surrounding jurisdictions by placing auto extrication equipment in six Butte County communities on first roll fire engines. Butte County Fire Rescue will conduct countywide multi-agency training and demonstrations of the equipment's capabilities.

Note to editors and assignment desks: For further information regarding OTS grants and programs, contact Marilyn Sabin, Assistant Director of Operations, at (916) 262-2978, or, (916) 798-6065. Visit the OTS Web site at www.ots.ca.gov.

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Regional Grant: 2003 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Northern California