California Department of Transportation

Headquarters - Public Affairs Office
David Anderson
(916) 654-5820

June 29 , 2005 

New Caltrans Program Aims at Reducing Highway Injuries and Deaths

Sacramento - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today it is beginning a two-year campaign to develop a traffic safety and educational program intended to reduce the number of people injured or killed on state highways on or near Native American reservations or rancherias.

Caltrans has hired the National Indian Justice Center of Santa Rosa, California, as a consultant, to collect traffic fatality and injury data, analyze the information and identify traffic safety problems on or near selected Native American communities.

Working with Caltrans, the consultant will develop a program designed to educate Native American communities on how to improve roadway safety where they live. Safety workshops, educational flyers and brochures and informational signs will be part of the effort to reduce injuries and fatalities on highways on or near reservations and rancherias.

There are 109 federally recognized tribes in California, many of which are located in rural areas and are highly reliant on the State Highway System.

Funding for the program is provided by a $134,400 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.