Traffic Safe Communities Network(TSCN)- Public Health Department(DEP)

County of San

Service. Community. Innovation.
c»

i:

Page 1 of2

SEARCH SCCGOV

c

Go

HOME I A-Z SERVICES|CONTACTS|FAQs|SUGGESTIONS|SITEMAP|ABOUT US

AGENCIES & DEPTS

County Connection|Handling Emergencies|Living and Working|Health and Human Care|Doing Business [ Lav
t? YOU ARE HERE > Public Health Department (DEP)

Traffic Safe Communities Network (TSCN)

In 1997, professionals and community members identified a countywide need to ere
comprehensive traffic safety program that included coordinated planning, enforcem^
engineering, and education efforts. The following year, the Traffic Safe Communities
(TSCN) emerged as a collaborative program supported by the National Highway Tra'
Administration, California Office of Traffic Safety, and Santa Clara County Public Hes
Department.

The aim of TSCN is to prevent and control traffic-related fatalities and injuries as well as save health c
property costs through research-based best practice approaches, TSCN's current focus areas are:
• Alcohol & impaired driving
• Bicycle & pedestrian safety
• Roadway safety

Scope of the Traffic Safety Problem in Santa Clara County
Motor vehicle-related incidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the country. In
there were 89 deaths and 10,601 injuries due to crashes. Of those, 19 people died and 614 people
in crashes where alcohol was considered the primary collision factor. In 2004, roughly 30% of the tra
deaths were pedestrians and bicyclists.

In 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that traffis crashes cost each p<
the U.S. an Average of $820. These costs include productivity losses, property damage, medical cost;
rehabilitation costs, travel delay, legal and court costs, emergency services, insurance administration
employer costs.
Current Project

TSCN's Alcohol & Impaired Driving Work Group developed Underage Drinking and Driving: A Guide for
and Teens. This guide provides information on consequences for teens, legal consequences for paren
drinking, suggestions for teens, tips for parents and resources. The guide is available in English and S
will soon be releases in Vietnamese. The group also coordinates the DUI in the Schools program whic
a rea

DUI trial from the courthouse to a high school to provide students a civics lesson while teaching

consequences of drinking and driving.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Work Group is currently piloting a juvenile traffic diversion program in sev(
within Santa Clara County. Juveniles cited for non-motor vehicle violations such as, failure to wear a
when riding a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard are offered the opportunity to attend a traffic safety clas

paying the fine. Officers from local law enforcement agencies teach the classes. This project is funde
a grant from the California Kids’ Plate Program in cooperation with Stanford Hospital and Trauma Serv

http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/phd/menuitem.efbl6479ca7a0488dfe093102830a429/?... 10/23/2006

Traffic Safe Communities Network(TSCN)- Public Health Department(DEP)

Page 2 of 2

The Roadway Safety Work Group is comprised of city engineers and iaw enforcement and together the
working to decreases crashes associated with red iight running and speeding. During August the grou[
coordinated Stop on Red Week where 12 cities in the county stepped up efforts to target red iight viol'
the course of one week, 344 citations were issued. In the faii 2006, the group wiii be instaiiing speed
signs at over 40 areas in the county identified by the prevalence of motorists speeding.
Attachments:

TSCN Underage Drinking & Driving: A Guide for Parents & Teens (English - Second Editio
TSCN Underage Drinking& Driving: A Guide for Parents & Teens (Spanish)

Adobe

County Policy|Privacy Policy|Accessibility|Site Map|Contact Webmaster I Site Heip
All Content Copyright ©2006, The County Of Santa Clara, CA

http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/phd/menuitem.efbl6479ca7a0488dfe093102830a429/?... 10/23/2006