State grants support Riverside County transportation safety programs

Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS-PH) received more than $750,000 in state traffic safety grants for programs aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities in Riverside County.

“We are doing more than just educating our communities; we are indirectly saving lives,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of public health. “This grant will allow us to promote safe practices and provide equitable safety solutions for all Riverside County residents.”

The grants, which are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, run through September 2024. They include:

• $240,500 for the Child Passenger Safety Program, which offers community outreach events, education classes, and training on the installation and use of child safety seats. The program aims to reduce the number of crashes that kill or injure children under 8 years of age.
• $120,000 for the College Communities Against Drunk, Drugged, and Distracted Driving (CADDD) Program, which collaborates with local colleges on prevention education and resources to reduce the number of residents killed or injured due to alcohol, drug impaired and distracted driving.
• $182,000 for the Be Wiser Teen Impaired/Distracted Driving & Speeding/Occupant Safety Program in high schools and middle schools. The program provides education and resources to address occupant safety, unsafe speed, impaired and distracted driving.
• $240,137 for PedBike, a pedestrian and bicycle safety education program that encourages riders to wear a fitted helmet whenever they bike and educates older adults about mobility and transportation issues.

To learn more about RUHS-PH injury-prevention programs, please visit  http://www.rivcoips.org/home/.

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