SCAG Receives Grant for Go Human Safety Program

Press Release

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund continued work on its regional active transportation safety and encouragement program, Go Human.

Southern California has some of the highest levels of injuries and fatalities in the United States among pedestrians and bicyclists. Overall, an average of more than four people die and 14 people are seriously injured every day in traffic collisions in the six-county SCAG region (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties). People walking or riding bikes account for 27% of those deaths despite comprising only 12% of all trips.  SCAG data shows that 70% of all collision are on local roads.

SCAG launched the Go Human program in 2015 in an effort to reduce collisions, improve safety for people walking and biking and raise awareness of the importance of traffic safety.

“Walking and biking are essential components of the region’s transportation system. Efforts like Go Human ensure people can do so safely, which is critical to promoting healthy communities and ensuring the efficiency of our increasingly integrated transportation system,” said SCAG President Clint Lorimore, an Eastvale City Councilmember.

The new OTS grant will fund continued Go Human activities through September 30, 2022 which include:

  • Local and regional communication campaigns and storytelling strategies, centering community narratives;
  • Safe & Resilient Streets Strategies to implement street activations and demonstrations utilizing Go Human’s Kit of Parts Lending Library of resources;
  • Community Streets Mini-Grants to fund local engagement projects led by community-based organizations; and
  • Co-Branded Safety Advertisements, print and digital graphics provided at no cost to jurisdictions who have committed to the Go Human Safety Pledge.

SCAG will continue to focus engagement efforts in collaboration with local elected officials, city staff  and community-based organizations that serve communities disproportionately impacted by collisions.

These Go Human initiatives will help SCAG and its partners ensure that the streets of the region are safe for those who walk, bike and drive. With this funding from OTS, SCAG Go Human continues to play a role in recovery and resiliency efforts amid the pandemic. Since the pandemic began in 2020, SCAG has distributed more than $490,000 directly to community-based organizations to implement safety projects and distributed thousands of co-branded safety advertisements to local jurisdictions. Through the programs supported by this funding, Go Human will continue to build partnerships to implement projects across the region, guided by a holistic, equity-centered approach to safety.

“Go Human plays an essential role in assuring the safety of all roadway users, especially pedestrians and bicyclists,” said SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise. “This funding from OTS allows us to continue our work, which includes Go Human in making our communities healthier and safer in Southern California.”

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

Read the full press release here: SCAG Receives Grant for Go Human Safety Program