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Press Release

GOVERNOR DAVIS AWARDS MORE THAN $784,000 IN GRANTS
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY IN CENTRAL COAST REGION

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gray Davis today announced the award of 10 new traffic safety grants totaling $784,964 for Central Coast area communities. The grants, administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, will include increased detection of alcohol and drug-impaired drivers, police traffic services, and pedestrian and bicycle safety programs.

“ California is building upon past successes that local traffic safety practitioners have had in keeping our roadways safe,” Governor Davis said. “Safety for Californians is our No. 1 concern.”

In addition to the Central Coast region grants, Governor Davis announced the award of 191 other traffic safety grants across California, totaling $35.2 million statewide.

A major element of the FFY 2004 grants is Alcohol and Other Drugs, designed to encourage stepped-up enforcement and education of state DUI laws. Seventy-three grantees will share more than $15 million in funding for one or more of the following initiatives: increased statewide sobriety checkpoints, warrant service patrols for multiple DUI offenders, “live” DUI trials at local high schools, “reality check” student press conferences and “Every 15 Minutes” programs.
“ We want to maximize the potential for life-saving results by funding programs that address California’s greatest traffic safety challenges, ” stated Governor Davis. “All of these programs support the same goal — to prevent injuries and the loss of life.”

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

Salinas Police Department ($120,000) will conduct a DUI and Seat Belt Enforcement and Education Program aimed at reducing the number of impaired drivers involved in fatal and injury collisions, as well as increase the use of seat belts. Program activities will include DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and public education in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and area high schools.

Santa Barbara City Fire Department ($60,000) will purchase two sets of vehicle extrication equipment in an effort to reduce emergency response and extrication times. The equipment will be housed at stations which do not currently have extrication equipment at their disposal. The Department will conduct countywide training and public demonstrations of the new equipment under this grant.

San Luis Obispo County Fire Department ($50,322) will develop a program to reduce the number of speed-related injury and fatal collisions in the community. The grant will provide overtime for officers assigned to traffic enforcement, with a focus on speed and DUI violators, as well as the installation of traffic calming signs in areas identified as having high numbers of speed violators.

Regional Grant: 2003 Traffic Safety Grant Awards to Central Coast

 

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