Project
Characteristics |
Innovative
High Media Visibility
Educational
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Program
Areas |
Pedestrian
& Bicycle Safety |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
Town |
Targeted
Population |
Elementary
School Children |
Jurisdiction
Size |
30,000 |
Funding |
Section
402: $24,334 |
Contact |
Sgt.
David Gravel
Los Gatos, Monte Sereno PD
110 E. Main St.
Las Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 354-6851
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Digest
Listing
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CALIFORNIA
Pedestrian Safety Program
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Due to service reductions that occurred
during the mid to late 1990’s, the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police
Department experienced a significant decrease in its enforcement ability
with regard to hazardous citations that were issued, traffic
crashes that were investigated, and elimination of pedestrian safety
programs. In addition to the lack of education programs and reduction in
the number of citations, the town of Los Gatos was experiencing a high
number of fatal and injury collisions of pedestrians under the age of 15
(compared to jurisdictions of similar size).
The Pedestrian Safety Program was created
to address these factors affecting enforcement. The program components
included using radar enforcement to assist the Police Department with
enforcement, developing a pedestrian safety program targeting elementary
school children, and seeking media and public support for these measures.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Some significant goals were to:
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The strategies focused
on:
-
Increasing enforcement
efforts, which were complimented by new mobile radar
equipment and a new radar speed display trailer.
-
Developing a safety
program and materials to be adopted as an ongoing program in
elementary schools.
-
Implementing a public
information campaign targeting drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians
regarding pedestrian and bicycle safety, and proper behavior on town
roadways.
- A
pedestrian safety program known as “Walking Safe” was developed to
target students in the local elementary schools to heighten awareness
and increase safety habits, including improving pedestrian safety.
Press releases were issued about the local “Walk to School”
days in order to increase awareness and promote pedestrian safety in
the community. In addition, mobile radar equipment and a fixed radar
trailer were used to increase enforcement in school zones. On
occasion, motor officers were stationed a block past the radar display
trailers, using mobile radar units to cite motorists who ignored the
display trailers.
RESULTS
- The total number of fatal and injury
collisions was reduced by 36 percent from 141 to 90.
- The number of bicyclists killed and
injured in traffic collisions under age 15 was reduced by 33 percent.
- The total number of pedestrians killed
and injured in traffic collisions was reduced by 15 percent.
- The total number of hazardous (moving
violation) citations issued was increased by 136 from 1042 to 2456.
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