Community Events
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is committed to making California roads safe for everyone. The OTS supports a variety of impactful initiatives from our partners and allied agencies, including community outreach programs, educational workshops, and traffic safety events.
Join us at these events to learn how we can all contribute to safer roads in California.
Event Recap
Dispatchers, The “First” First Responders
The OTS staff joined the California Highway Patrol at the Sacramento Communications Center to gain firsthand insight into the essential work of dispatchers – the “first” first responders in traffic safety. Dispatchers are the critical link between the public and emergency services, orchestrating swift responses after a 911 call is made.
Post-crash care is a critical component of the Safe System Approach and encompasses the entire emergency response continuum – from timely 911 activation to coordinated first responder and EMS deployment, field triage and treatment, transport to appropriate trauma centers, and traffic incident management. In 2023, 43% of people killed in car crashes in the U.S. were still alive when first responders arrived, which is why quick access to emergency care is vital.
As part of their visit with the CHP Communications Center team, the OTS learned how dispatchers quickly and efficiently capture essential details from callers and collaborate with officers, public safety personnel, and other services during the crucial first moments after an incident, ensuring help reaches people quickly and efficiently. Additionally, the OTS learned how dispatchers offer a compassionate, supportive voice that reassures a caller in need. Seeing this work in action deepened our understanding of the interconnected roles of the EMS system, and it starts with the “first” first responder who receives a 911 call.
CATSDC Annual Meeting: Driving Collaboration to Keep Teens Safe
The California Teen Safe Driving Coalition (CATSDC) convened on July 22, 2026, for its annual in‑person meeting in Sacramento. The meeting brought together more than 80 public health partners, educators, advocates, and other traffic safety leaders committed to reducing teen crashes.
The coalition continues to focus on improving teen driving habits through evidence based programs, such as Graduated Driver Licensing education, reducing distracted driving, increasing seat belt use, and addressing speed. The OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty and Deputy Director Tim Weisberg shared updates on the OTS highway safety programs and development of interactive education tools, reinforcing the importance of reaching youth and building a safety culture.
The meeting sparked thoughtful conversations about connection, shared responsibility, the importance of working together, fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, while also encouraging momentum in advancing road safety in California.
Upcoming Events
- 8/17: Back to School Safety Media Event, Sacramento
- 8/22: Yolo County’s Community Meeting & Walk, Esparto
- 8/29: 9th Annual Mental Health & Community Conference, Modesto
2026
July
- 7/9: MADD Law Enforcement & Prosecutor Recognition Awards, Danville
- 7/17-8/2: California State Fair, Cal Expo, Sacramento
- 7/23: MADD Law Enforcement & Prosecutor Recognition Awards, Roseville
- 7/28: Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) International Automated Transportation Symposium, San Diego
June
- 6/6: Cosumnes Fire Department’s Regional Safety Day, Elk Grove
- 6/8: Los Angeles Mexican Consulate’s Facebook Live
- 6/13: City of Elk Grove Police Department’s BBQ in the Beat, Backer Park, Elk Grove
- 6/17: Safe Kids San Benito’s Kids at the Park, Hollister
- 6/18: Casa Mexico World Cup Watch Party, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Los Angeles
- 6/19: Law Enforcement/Carnival Day Kids Sports Camp. Sacramento
- 6/20: Juneteenth & Dadteenth, Sacramento
- 6/20: Ford Driving Skills for Life Program, Oceanside
- 6/23: Casa Mexico World Cup Watch Party, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Los Angeles
May
- 5/1-3: El Concilio Cinco de Mayo Multicultural Festival Weekend, San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, Stockton
- 5/7: May Is Bike Month Caltrans Leadership Ride, Sacramento
- 5/9: City of Folsom’s 80th Birthday Celebration, Folsom
- 5/9: 5th Annual Breathe Bike Festival, West Sacramento
- 5/15: Traffic Safety Champion program webinar: “Connecting Multicultural Communities to Traffic Safety Resources: Strategies for Building Trust and Overcoming Barriers”
- 5/16: Grand opening of Safe Play Park, Arden Arcade’s Howe Park
- 5/16: “Celebrating MLK Boulevard for Bike Month”, South Los Angeles
April
- 4/7: Caltrans District 4 Fallen Workers Memorial, San Leandro
- 4/15: Resource Fair, Mexican Consulate, Sacramento
- 4/18: Health Education Council’s Spring into Wellness Community Health Fair. Sacramento
- 4/18-21: 2026 Lifesavers Conference, Baltimore, MD
- 4/23: 36th Annual Caltrans Workers Memorial Event, West Sacramento
- 4/25: 12th Annual Safe Kids Day Health & Wellness Fair, Oakland Arena, Oakland
March
- 3/4: City of Sacramento’s Community Workshop, Sacramento
- 3/10: Health and Safety Fair, Mexican Consulate, Los Angeles
- 3/11: City of Sacramento’s Community Workshop, Sacramento
- 3/18: Resource Fair, Mexican Consulate, Sacramento
- 3/21: Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) Awards Ceremony, Los Angeles
February
- 2/5: DUI Symposium, Sierra College, Roseville
- 2/5 Traffic Safety Champion Webinar “Taking Action: Championing Traffic Safety in Your Community”
- 2/7: 15th Annual 2026 Steps to College Event, Cal Expo, Sacramento
January
- 1/24: Bilingual College Fair, San Diego
2025
December
- 12/5: 46th Annual Farmworker Appreciation Breakfast, Calexico
- 12/18: La Familia Counseling Center (LFCC) Posada Navideña event, Sacramento
November
- 11/16: World Day of Remembrance, Los Angeles
October
- 10/24: Trunk N’ Treat event at the La Familia Counseling Center, Sacramento
- 10/28: California Impaired Driving Task Force (CIDTF) Meeting, Orange County
September
- 9/3: State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Safety Summit, Redding
- 9/27: City of Cupertino’s 12th Annual Bike Fest, Santa Clara County
August
- 8/16-17: Ford Driving Skills for Life, Anaheim
July
- 7/17: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Sacramento Area Law Enforcement Recognition Awards, Citrus Heights
- 7/19: Safe Kids Day Health and Wellness Fair, Oakland
June
- 6/7: Cosumnes Fire Department and Elk Grove Police Department’s Regional Safety Day, Elk Grove
- 6/21: Juneteenth Freedom Celebration. Antioch
- 6/24: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Recognition Awards, Los Angeles
May
- 5/3: Breathe Bike Festival, West Sacramento
- 5/6: California Highway Patrol (CHP) Memorial, CHP Academy, West Sacramento
- 5/22: 24th Annual EYE Light Film Festival, Sacramento
GET INVOLVED
Help create safer roads for all and check out these safety initiatives.
Traffic Safety Champion Program
Take the pledge to be a traffic safety champion. Get involved with local traffic safety efforts and become an advocate for and contribute to safer roads in your community.
Go Safely Movement
Join the movement for safer roads. Help address traffic safety issues in your community. Fill out our community call-to-action survey.
Street Story
Feel unsafe walking or biking? Were you involved in a crash or experience a near-miss? Share your Street Story and provide input on improvements.
