Sunnyvale DPS Receives Grant for Road Safety

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) will increase patrols throughout the community and provide other traffic safety programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads. The work will be funded through a $100,000 grant from the state and federal governments.

“This grant funding allows us to support our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community,” Department of Public Safety Captain Daniel Pistor said. “Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that put people at risk and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
• High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE).

Sunnyvale has worked hard to try and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists and it is recognizing community members who do the same. During the City’s 2022 Community Awards ceremony, resident Ari Feinsmith received the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for an individual for his consistent work as an advocate for cyclists and pedestrians. Feinsmith leads the Sunnyvale chapter of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

The grant program will run through September 2023.

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