County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department Receives Funding for Youth Traffic Safety Education Program
Author: Behavioral Health Department
Date:
11/5/2020 10:07:03 AM
Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) provides program to prevent SLO County youth traffic related injuries and deaths.
The County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department has been awarded a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for $76,000 for a year-long program of public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries. This funding provides local youth opportunities to lead projects that will actively engage their peers, family members and community members in reducing underage drinking and the issues that result from the behavior. Additionally, efforts will be expanded to Cal Poly and Cuesta College, with a focus on first-time drivers and the unique challenges of driver safety for college-aged students. The agency will use the funding to continue ongoing education efforts countywide and as a commitment to keep our roadways safe, improving the quality of life through both awareness and education.
The County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department is one of hundreds of grantees in the state of California, with the OTS providing nearly $94 million in funding to traffic safety efforts. “The funding will go toward efforts aimed at preventing deaths and serious injuries on our roadways,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Our road safety problems are clear. We must work toward improving roadway safety for everyone by changing behaviors to ensure every person, regardless of how they travel, goes safely.”
The grant award announcement comes following National Teen Driver Safety Week, (Oct. 18-24), a time for promoting safe driving, including distracted driving and impaired driving prevention messaging. Driving remains the most dangerous activity for teens, as crashes are the leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old. In 2017, 2,247 people were killed in vehicle crashes involving a teen driver (15-18 years old), according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This year, the Behavioral Health Prevention and Outreach Division spearheaded a social media campaign with tips, risks, and rules of the road for teen drivers in partnership with local high schools and other OTS grantees.
The Behavioral Health Prevention and Outreach Division offers tips to parents and guardians about starting conversations about safe driving with teens, and the responsibilities that come with being a licensed driver:
For more information, please contact Megan Frauenheim, San Luis Obispo County Friday Night Live Coordinator at 805-781-4289 or by emailing [email protected] .