 |
The Traffic Safety Navigator is the 2020–2024 California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) e-newsletter. The newsletter provides SHSP updates along with insights into best practices for implementing strategies that achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries on California’s roadways. |
|
|
|
|
|
- Thank You SHSP Leadership
- Help Shape the 2025–2029 SHSP
- Safety Spotlight: California Walks
- Learning from California Walks’ Policy Roundtables
- Highlighting Completed 2020–2024 SHSP Actions
- Get Involved and SHSP Resources
- What is the SHSP?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here for a PDF version of this e-newsletter |
|
|
|
|
|
THANK YOU SHSP LEADERSHIP
The accomplishments of the 2020–2024 SHSP would not be possible without the strong partnership and collaboration amongst members of the Executive Leadership, Steering Committee, and Challenge Area Teams. The Executive Leadership has been instrumental in facilitating multi-agency support and providing strategic guidance for the SHSP Implementation Plan and statewide transportation safety initiatives. Meanwhile, the Steering Committee has engaged multiple organizations throughout California and has advised the Executive Leadership on both technical and policy-related issues, thereby guiding the overall structure and implementation of the SHSP over the five-year period. Finally, the Challenge Area Teams have provided an essential foundation for the SHSP with their technical expertise, identifying key issues and delivering insights essential for effective SHSP implementation. Their research and knowledge have been vital for developing integrated safety strategies across multiple organizations and leadership levels.
|
|
|
|
|
With the conclusion of the 2020–2024 SHSP, preparation of the 2025–2029 SHSP is already underway. The SHSP Team will be leading many outreach activities this spring to raise awareness and encourage participation in the SHSP, as well as engage with local, regional, state, federal and tribal partners to gain valuable input on its development. There are several ways to get involved and help shape the next SHSP:
Similar to the SHSP’s Fall 2022 Regional Workshops, the SHSP Team will lead a series of six virtual workshops to solicit input and feedback on how the statewide SHSP relates to local and regional transportation safety efforts, as well as provide a platform to share best practices and lessons learned for transportation safety. Dates and registration information will be available within the coming months.
The SHSP Team and partner agencies plan to participate in multiple transportation safety events throughout California this spring. See the upcoming events section below for opportunities to connect with fellow transportation safety professionals. Additionally, if you would like to request a presentation from an SHSP representative or informational materials to share at an upcoming event, please reach out to SH...@dot.ca.gov with the details of your request.
Getting involved in a Challenge Area Team is a direct way to influence countermeasures selected to improve transportation safety. There are 16 Challenge Area Teams, each of which handles a specific emphasis area of roadway safety, such as pedestrian safety or reducing young driver fatalities. Now is an ideal time to sign up to help shape the priorities for the next SHSP. Complete our Get Involved Form to learn more and request to become part of a Challenge Area Team. This is also great information to share with your peers to get more people involved.
Engaging with stakeholders throughout California is vital to ensuring the 2025–2029 SHSP is a comprehensive, statewide transportation safety plan that provides a framework for achieving zero fatalities and serious injuries across all travel modes and on all public roads. We hope you’ll consider joining us at upcoming events and helping spread the word about opportunities to get involved.
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT: CALIFORNIA WALKS
By Kevin Shin, California Walks Co-Executive Director
Originally founded as WalkSAC in the early 2000s, California Walks (Cal Walks) has evolved into a statewide organization dedicated to pedestrian safety and community engagement that advocates for the most vulnerable communities. With a focus on educating communities about safe street strategies, Cal Walks hosted more than 125 geographically-tailored workshops serving over 85 communities across California. The organization emphasizes health, safety, and equity.
The Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training (CPBST) program focuses on addressing the intersections of land use, roadway safety, and public health. The program identifies safety concerns and empowers communities to advance their safety goals and improve the quality of life by addressing any mobility limitations. Applications for communities to host a workshop are now open — please help spread the word!
Cal Walks has recently outlined a strategy for CBO-focused outreach and engagement for vulnerable and underserved communities to equitably inform and shape the SHSP. The organization is excited about continuing its participation in the SHSP and is looking forward to engaging with more Challenge Areas to support Actions in other SHSP High Priority Challenge Areas, such as Speed Management / Aggressive Driving. For more information on Cal Walks, please visit their website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEARNING FROM CALIFORNIA WALKS’
POLICY ROUNDTABLES
By Kevin Shin, California Walks Co-Executive Director
In fall 2023, California Walks hosted two “Advancing Health through Active Transportation” policy roundtables to gather input from the community about the policy barriers that prevent communities from becoming healthier and safer. Held at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of California, Davis (UC Davis) with the support of each school’s Institute for Transportation Studies (ITS), the policy roundtables offered a place for conversation and ideation to address challenges in both legislative and administrative policies.
Participants included community-based organizations (CBOs), academics researching transportation issues, and representatives of state agencies. The roundtables saw a diversity of ideas presented, shared, debated, and discussed. Each conversation reflected the distinct needs of each community represented.
California Walks documented the input received and identified key themes to help shape much of its policy agenda for 2024, including its continued focus on equity, inclusion, and community engagement with the SHSP. It also ensured that as California Walks engaged around the successful policy battles to push for the passage of AB2086 on funding accountability and SB960 to create a complete streets policy, the organization knew it was doing so in the interest of communities across the state.
In fall 2024, California Walks hosted additional policy roundtables at UC Berkeley and a virtual session to hear from youth in January of 2025. Both sessions contributed to California Walks’ continued policy work, ensuring that its efforts reflect the needs of California’s diverse communities and provide all communities with a seat at the table.
To learn more about future California Walks policy roundtables and how you may be able to get involved, please contact Kevin Shin, Co-Executive Director of California Walks, at ke...@calwalks.org.
|
|
|
|
|
As we complete the 2020–2024 SHSP close out process, the SHSP Team has an opportunity to celebrate the great work Challenge Area Team members have accomplished over the past four years, including: |
- Development of 81 actions
- Completion of 70 actions
|
These significant achievements reflect meaningful collaboration between multiple agencies throughout the state to improve safety. A few specific highlights of completed actions include: |
-
The DMV developed The Impaired Driving County-Crash Analysis Tool, which offers a user-friendly data visualization tool to explore the impact of substance-involved crashes within California Counties. This led to the development of the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) dashboards, which show arrests, convictions, and other related statistics.
-
Caltrans developed videos and radio content urging a change in public behavior in construction zones in order to reduce collisions, deaths, injuries and economic losses that result from highway work zone collisions.
-
Caltrans and UC Berkeley created a Safe Speeds Toolkit offering practitioners an overview of speed setting methodology, best practices, and case studies to help local jurisdictions across California set safer speed limits.
-
The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) expanded their E-Rider Training Program from two sites in 2020 to 35 sites as of June 2024. To date, nearly 20,000 students have received their license.
|
The SHSP Team thanks all Co-leads, Action Leads, and Challenge Area Team members for recognizing the importance of each of the 16 Challenge Areas and for working together to develop effective strategies to move the actions towards completion. Your dedicated work has paved the way for the successful completion of 70 actions, which will continue to help improve safety on California’s public roads! For an overview of these actions, please visit the action tracking summary. |
|
|---|
|
|
|
GET INVOLVED AND SHSP RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHECK OUT THE SHSP CRASH DATA DASHBOARD
The California SHSP Crash Data Dashboard was developed to provide SHSP implementers with direct access to crash data to support data-driven implementation of the SHSP. The dashboard currently uses finalized crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) and allows users to customize reports by location and other characteristics, including whether a fatal or serious injury crash was within five miles of a tribal boundary. The California SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities Dataset (2022) is featured under the Location tab within the SHSP Crash Data Dashboard.
If you are unfamiliar with the Crash Data Dashboard, it only takes a few minutes to register and create an account; there is a user guide and videos available in both English and Spanish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING AND RECENT EVENTS
January 5–9, 2025 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is a leading organization in transportation research and provides valuable resources and expertise to transportation professionals and policymakers worldwide. As part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, TRB mobilizes expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. The 104th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting presented an opportunity to network with fellow transportation peers, learn about innovative research, and see what’s coming next for the industry. Learn more at trb-annual-meeting.nationalacademies.org.
March 9–11, 2025, Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA
The Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety is the largest gathering of roadway safety professionals in the United States. The 43rd annual conference is designed to engage federal, state and local government, law enforcement, public health, injury prevention, advocacy, and non-profit organization professionals in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and programs to reduce preventable injuries and deaths. This conference will provide a national platform with approximately 70 workshops in ten tracks, plenary sessions, and an extensive exhibit hall. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with roadway safety professionals highlighting research to practice efforts across the country! To register, visit the registration page.
March 18–21, 2025, County Engineers Association of California (CEAC) Spring Conference, Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, CA
In conjunction with the League of California Cities Public Works Officers Institute, each year the CEAC Spring Conference brings together County and City Public Works officials, other senior-level staff, and private sector consultants to network, discuss challenges facing many California counties, and to receive valuable information from relevant experts. To register, visit the registration page.
April 16, 2025, Southern California American Public Works Association (SoCAL APWA) 26th Annual Conference, Carson Event Center, Carson, CA
The American Public Works Association (APWA) serves professionals in all aspects of public works. The Southern California Chapter is hosting its 26th Annual Conference, which presents an opportunity to connect with a dynamic and engaged community of professionals dedicated to advancing the goals and mission of the association at the local level. Join for the opportunity to learn from new perspectives and best practices. Learn more at southernca.apwa.org/socal-pwx.
May 1–2, 2025, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Conference & General Assembly, JW Marriot Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA
The SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities in an area covering more than 38,000 square miles. The agency develops long-range regional transportation plans including sustainable communities strategy and growth forecast components, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing needs allocations and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality management plans. Celebrating its diamond anniversary, the 2025 conference is a unique opportunity to gather with other local and regional leaders to collaborate on fundamental issues such as mobility, housing and communities, the environment, and the economy. Subscribe to updates from SCAG for information about registration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHAT IS THE SHSP?
The California Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a comprehensive, statewide transportation safety plan which provides a framework for achieving zero fatalities and serious injuries across all travel modes and on all public roads. Started in 2005, the SHSP is updated regularly to ensure continued progress and to meet changing safety needs. Currently, over 580 safety stakeholders from over 230 public and private agencies and organizations work together on this effort under the guidance of the SHSP Executive Leadership and SHSP Steering Committees. The SHSP addresses the 5 Es: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, Emergency Response, and Emerging Technologies. In summer 2020, state transportation leaders recognized a bolder and more focused approach was necessary to combat the rise in fatalities and serious injuries that have occurred on California roadways since 2010. Four new Guiding Principles have been incorporated into the SHSP update process to further improve safety:
|
- Integrate Equity
- Implement a Safe System Approach
- Double Down on What Works
- Accelerate Advanced Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
