Traffic safety is a major concern for the residents of Saratoga, the Sheriff’s Office West Valley Patrol Division and the City of Saratoga. Traffic collisions result in more deaths, injuries and economic loss than all other matters of police responsibility combined. The rules of the road contained in the California Vehicle Code were enacted to promote smooth and rapid flow of traffic and reduce conflict.
The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Officers are diligent in enforcing traffic laws, and educating the public in traffic safety. They have specialized training in traffic collision investigation, which includes the re-construction of major injury and fatal collisions.
JUVENILE TRAFFIC DIVERSION PROGRAM
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office along with other Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Agencies have joined together to provide traffic school for youth. This program focuses on juveniles that violate traffic laws, such as not wearing helmets while operating bicycles or skateboards, and pedestrian violations. Juveniles are encouraged to take this informative 2-hour traffic diversion class.
Classes are taught by Deputies and Local Police Officers, and are attended by the ticketed youth, accompanied by a guardian. Rules of the road, information on common traffic violations and bicycle safety are discussed. Participants have the opportunity to hear from a trauma survivor guest speaker who provides a powerful speech. The Sheriff’s Office hopes by educating the juveniles on traffic safety, they will be less likely to re-violate thus reducing juvenile traffic involved injuries.
TRAFFIC AT SCHOOLS
The traffic issues at our schools are always a high priority for the West Valley Patrol Division. The unpredictable nature of children make it extremely important that driver’s pay close attention to their surroundings near our schools. Several Sheriff’s Deputies are on school traffic safety commissions in order to promote communication between parents, school staff, and students.
CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINT
Sheriff’s Deputies place a high emphasis in enforcing the California Vehicle Code pertaining to the implementation of child safety restraints. The safety of our children is one of the most important areas of our positions as Peace Officers.
The Sheriff’s Deputies trained in proper child safety restraint installation have completed the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program, which is a forty-hour program, and is maintained by yearly updates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute.
