Traffic Safe Communities Overview
TSCN is a community collaborative guided by the Public Health Department. TSCN partners represent law enforcement, engineering, public health, injury prevention, elected officials, education, judicial system, emergency medical services, bicycle and pedestrian safety advocacy groups, and other traffic safety stakeholders. The combined efforts of the TSCN’s members have generated innovative projects that have contributed to the countywide reduction in motor vehicle crashes and improvements in bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Under the leadership of the County’s Health Officer Dr. Martin Fenstersheib and County Supervisor Ken Yeager, TSCN strives to prevent and control traffic-related fatalities and injuries as well as save health care and property costs through research-based best practice approaches. Funding support for projects is provided by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, Caltrans, and others.

TSCN’s current focus areas are:
· Alcohol & impaired driving prevention
· Bicycle & pedestrian safety
· Roadway safety
· Senior driver safety

Traffic Safety Challenges in Santa Clara County
In 2007, the California Highway Patrol reported 18,068 crashes that resulted in 100 deaths and 9,831 injuries in the county. Crashes involving alcohol were responsible for 34 of the fatalities and 1,061 injuries. That same year, there were 538 pedestrians and 595 bicyclists injured or killed due to motor vehicle collisions. Red light running and speeding contributed significantly to the number of people injured in 2007. Over 822 injuries and two deaths were due to red light violations and 31 fatalities and over 3,776 injuries from crashes where speeding was the primary factor.

TSCN's Alcohol & Impaired Driving Prevention Work Group developed the Underage Drinking and Driving: A Guide for Parents and Teens. This guide provides information on consequences for teens, legal consequences for parents, binge drinking, suggestions for teens, tips for parents, and resources.  The guide is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Most recently the group created the Underage Drinking and Driving: A Facilitator’s Guide for Organizing Panel Presentations/Discussion Groups for Parents to compliment the parent and teen guide. The group also coordinates the DUI in the Schools program which relocates a real DUI trial from the courthouse to a high school to provide students a civics lesson while teaching about the consequences of drinking and driving.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Work Group promotes bicycling and pedestrian safety and the benefits of these healthy forms of transportation through public information, education, and public policy development. The work group will be expanding its support of campaigns such as Walk and Bike to School Week and Operation Safe Passage as it implements walkability and bikeability assessments, traffic safety committees, and student/parent education as part of a Safe Routes to School grant from Caltrans. Future goals include enhancing community walkability for other segments of the population including older adults. Bicycle and pedestrian safety resources include:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Parents and Youth
Use Your Head, Wear a Helmet(English)
Use Your Head Wear a Helmet (Spanish)

The Roadway Safety Work Group is comprised of engineers and law enforcement officers, working with health care providers. Through its highly visible media and targeted enforcement campaigns, this group has reduced red light running at a number of high risk intersections and decreased speeding in school zones in cities throughout the county. The group is currently piloting a juvenile traffic diversion program in several cities within Santa Clara County. Juvenile cited for non-motor vehicle violations such as failure to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard are offered the opportunity to attend a traffic safety class in lieu of paying the fine. This project was originally funded by a grant from the California Kids’ Plates Program in cooperation with Stanford Hospital and Trauma Service and is currently funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. This group continues to develop innovative strategies such as the use of GIS mapping, to improved roadway safety through education, enforcement and engineering efforts.

The Senior Driver Safety Program is a pilot project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. This program combines classroom education, self-assessment of driving abilities, CarFit events, and resources for alternative transportation options. Together, the components of the program are designed to help mature drivers improve safety and continue driving safely for as long as possible. TSCN works with senior centers and community centers to bring this program to older adults across Santa Clara County.

Additional Resources
TSCN brochure
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety for Parents and Youth booklet
Senior Driver Safety brochure
Senior Driver fact sheets