The City of Los Angeles, Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), has received a pair of grants totaling $376,080 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that will provide child safety seat education and fund activities emphasizing the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.
The Child Passenger Safety Grant will inform parents and caregivers in underserved communities on how to properly install and use child safety seats, while the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program grant will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety while emphasizing the importance of sharing the road. Both grant programs will run through September 2024.
“The Office of Traffic Safety has helped prevent accidents for many families across the City, " said Abigail Marquez, Community Investment for Families Department General Manager.
“We are proud of the countless hours of child passenger and pedestrian safety training provided by our certified team and appreciate the continued partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety. These resources are critical and life-saving."
In California, a failure to comply with child safety seat regulations results in fines beginning at $600, which disproportionately impacts low-income residents and immigrants.
The goal of both programs is to significantly reduce death and injury to children riding in cars and trucks while eliminating the financial burden for low-income families.
“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”
Funds will be used for a variety of community outreach events, education classes, bicycle and pedestrian activities, distribution of child safety seats, and training on the installation and use of child safety seats.
The programs will include:
Child safety seat inspection events and education classes.
Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) training and recertification courses.
Child safety seats at no cost for families in need.
Partnering with local organizations on car seat safety community outreach efforts in underserved communities.
Community bicycle and walk “audits” of streets with a high rate of pedestrian and/or bicyclist fatalities and serious injury crashes.
Participate in “Open Streets” events encouraging biking and walking.
Bicycle training courses that educate youth on safe riding behaviors.
CIFD has long advocated for traffic safety and joins the Los Angeles Police Department in annual efforts and outreach.