Traffic Safe CofHfHi^fiities NebMorfi CTSCN)in Santa CCara County
770 So. B(*scoHi Avenue,San Jose. CA 95128
led:(.908) 999-7850 Pax:(908)999-7851

To:

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Planning Committee

From:

Traffic Safe Communities of Santa Clara County

Date:

June 1, 2006

Regarding:

Traffic Safe Communities of Santa Clara County: A Safe Communities
Injury Prevention Model Presentation

TSCN Co-Chairs:

. James T. Beall, Jr..

Board of Supervisors
Santa Clara County
. Martin Fenslersheib. MD, MPH

Healirt Officer for Santa Clara County
TSCN Project Director:

. Guadalupe S. Olivas, PrtD
Director. Public Health Department
Program Manager:

- Alma Burrell. MPH

Public Health Department
Work Group Co-Chairs:

Alcohol & Impaired Driving:
• Jackie Masso

Mothers Against Drunk Dnving
Bicycle & Podostrian Safety:

Per the request of Commissioner James T. Beall, Traffic Safe Communities Network
(TSCN)of Santa Clara County will be providing the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission Planning Committee a brief historical overview and description of the
Network’s current projects. The purpose of the presentation is to describe how Santa
Clara County is addressing traffic related collisions, injuries and fatalities through its
injui7 prevention projects and countywide partnerships.

■ Ellen Corman

Stanford University Medical Center
. Dieckmann Cogill
City of Sunnyvale
Roadway Safety:
■ Ananlh Prasad

see Roads and Airports

Participating Agencies (aariiallislinat:

Alcohol Beverage eontrol (ABC)
ALTRANS

American Medical Response(AMR)
Bicycle Solutions
California Highway Patrol

TSCN was developed in 1997 after community members and public health professionals
identified a need for a countywide traffic safety program. The coalition applied for a
grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety(OTS)to implement a traffic safety
program based on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Safe
Communities Model - an injury prevention model supported by the World Health
Organization.

Los Gatos/Monte Sereno PD

Now in its eighth year, TSCN continues to receive funding from OTS to implement
strategic interventions aimed at preventing and reducing traffic related injuries, deaths,
and the economic costs associated with traffic crashes. Since the Network’s inception,
the Santa Clara County Public Health Department has been the fiscal agent for the grant
and has provided staff support for TSCN’s workgroups which currently include Alcohol
and Impaired Driving, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, and Roadway Safety. Network
members represent diverse groups such as law enforcement, injury prevention
advocates, elected officials, traffic engineers, court officials, community advocates, and
emergency services personnel. TSCN’s workgroups are directed by the Steering
Committee that is comprised of James T. Beall, Jr. from the Santa Clara County Board
of Supervisors, Martin Fenstersheib, the County’s Health Officer, and the workgroups’

MADD

co-chairs.

California Slate Automobile Assn.

Callrans - Region 4
City of Campbell
City of Cupertino
City of Gilroy
City of Los Altos
City of Milpitas
City of Morgan Hill
City of Mountain View
City of Palo Alto
City of San Jose
City of Santa Clara
City of Sunnyvale
Drinking Dnvers Program Assn.
Friday Night Live

Metropolitan Transportation Commission
NCADD
Palo AJio Area American Red Cross

Safe Kids Coalition
San Jose Medical Center Trauma Services

see Board of Supervisors
see Emergency Medical Sendees
see Office of the District Attorney
see Probation Department
see Roads & Airports
see Shenffs Office
SCVMC Trauma Services

Silicon Valley Bicyde Coalition
Stanford Trauma Services
Slate Farm Insurance

United Neighborhoods of SCC
Walk San Jose

All projects undertaken by the workgi'oups are developed based on “best practices” and
are evaluated for effectiveness through pre and post intervention data collection. The
following are cuiTent TSCN activities:
• Development of a helmet and traffic safety program for middle school students;
• Creation of a juvenile traffic diversion project for young people cited for helmet and
other non-motor vehicle traffic violations;
• Support of the California Highway Patrol’s Operation Safe Passage project tlii'ough
school outreach and education;

. Ongoing implementation of the DUI Court in the Schools program which educates
young people about the consequences of drinking and driving;

A Project of iAe MatlonaC f^igAway Traffic Safety AdrninlslratloH, tAe CaSlfornla Office of Traffic Safety, and lAe Sahta QCara County PuGSIc HeaeiA Vapartment.

. Research, design, and distribution of the Underage Drinking and Driving: A Parent and
Teen Guide;

■ Administration of the High School Seat Belt Challenge which promotes seat belt usage;
• Maintenance of partnerships between city and county organizations to reduce red light
running and speeding at crash-prone areas in 11 cities.
TSCN has earned recognition for its innovative strategies and partnerships. The Network has
been nominated twice for the Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award sponsored by the
Governors Highway Safety Association. Mothers Against Drunk Driving acknowledged the
DUI Court in the Schools program. Additionally, TSCN was nominated for the World Health
Organization’s Annual International Safe Communities Transportation & Safety Partnership
Award.

As data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System(SWITRS)indicates, traffic
collisions are a significant problem on our roadways in terms of injuries, fatalities, and the
economic costs to our society. Creative prevention-based interventions and partnerships are
necessary if significant reductions in traffic incidence are to occur.