KEEPING OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SAFE ON THE CITY’S STREETS | Community Investment For Families Department

The Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) provides safety instructions for children, and seniors while riding in vehicles, walking, or biking through our Child Passenger Safety Program and the Safe Biking and Walking Program. These programs are offered through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In California, car accidents are among the top five causes of hospitalization and death among children under age 16. Studies show that serious injury to a child passenger during the operation of a vehicle can be significantly reduced if the child is in a car seat that has been properly installed and fitted. Many parents, however, are not aware of the steps they should take to ensure that their children are as safe as possible while riding in a motor vehicle.

Keeping Children Safe in Vehicles

The goal of our Child Passenger Safety (CPS) program is to increase child passenger safety and reduce the number of injuries and deaths to children caused during automobile accidents by educating parents, guardians, and other adults about the proper selection and installation of child passenger seats. Through the coordinated efforts of the City’s FamilySource Centers, hospitals, and other participating organizations, the CPS program provides child passenger safety education to low-income families throughout the City of Los Angeles.

Child Passenger Safety Classes

Join our child passenger safety classes which are led by trained and certified CPS staff. During each session, the parent/guardian receives important information about how to correctly install a car seat in the vehicle and properly fit the child in the seat. Classes are provided several times each month at different locations and are open to the public.

For more information about the CPS program, or to register for a class, please call (213) 808-8962.

Sharon Mccutcheon: Baby in a car seat to represent Child Passenger Safety

Office of Traffic Safety Programs: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Pedestrian and bicycle safety remains an important traffic safety issue in an ever-changing transportation landscape that accommodates all types of road users. According to a 2019 Governors Highway Safety Association report, pedestrian traffic fatalities in California increased by 12% from 2018 to 2019. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety program promotes safe behaviors and the use of roadways when walking or biking. Programs target all age groups to raise awareness about traffic rules, rights, and responsibilities whether you are driving, on foot, or bikes. Specifically, programs are designed for high-risk populations, including youth and older community members, all to teach safer driving, bicycling, and walking behaviors. Activities for youth include bicycle training and walking courses to build skills that make children comfortable getting to and from school. Additional outreach targets underserved and older communities to identify safety issues and demonstrate best safety practices in real-time.

For more information about the programs or to register for workshops or events, please email Olivia.Mitchell@lacity.org. Staff is also available to host information booths at community events.