The Sacramento Police Department has been awarded a grant totaling $169,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. The grant will provide education, training, and special enforcement around schools located within the city of Sacramento. The grant enhances the City and Police Department’s ongoing commitment to improve traffic safety and quality of life in and around our city schools, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Activities that the grant will fund include:

·        Conducting traffic enforcement around the schools when needed; enforcing  speed, distracted driving and other hazardous moving violations associated with pedestrian and bicycle collisions

·        Conducting bicycle helmet usage surveys of our schools, and implementing incentive programs to increase helmet use, including proper fitting and distribution of bicycle helmets

·        Conducting bicycle safety training through presentations and bicycle rodeos at the schools

·        Conducting pedestrian safety training through presentations and distribution of educational materials at the schools

·        Helping to establish and maintain comprehensive public education programs, including a partnership with Sacramento Safe Routes to School, in order to reduce pedestrian and bicycle involved collisions

·        Increasing teen driver education programs such as Start Smart and Impact Teen Driving Program.

·        Conducting saturation patrols to address underage drinking and driving

·        Education through community events to increase helmet usage among young bicyclists

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.