Traffic Safety Digest  
Winter 2003
 
Project Characteristics
Innovative
High Media Visibility
Educational

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 

Digest Listing


     

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:

  • Reduce the fatal and injury collision total by five percent;

  • Reduce the number of bicyclists killed and injured under the age of 15 by 33 percent; and

  • Reduce the total number of pedestrians killed and injured in traffic collisions by 15 percent.

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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