Office of Traffic Safety Awards $375,000 in Grants to the San Francisco Police Department for Traffic Enforcement and Motorcycle Safety Programs to Increase Safety on Roads 25-143

The San Francisco Police Department announced today that it has received two grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads. The grant programs run through September 2026.

“We are grateful to receive these grants, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” SFPD Deputy Chief Jason Sawyer said, who heads the department's Special Operations Bureau, including the Traffic Division. “Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent collisions, and make our roads safer for everyone."

The $335,000 police traffic services 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 collisions: 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, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
· Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

“Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we’re working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “By encouraging people to prioritize safety in their daily choices, we are creating a strong road safety culture together."

Additionally, SFPD was awarded a second grant for $40,000 to promote motorcycle safety awareness with free, hands-on rider trainings led by local law enforcement. Grant funds will pay for a series of free motorcycle safety classes that allow riders to practice braking, turning, steering, entering traffic, and other skills that help avoid crashes and improve rider safety.

Funding for these programs was provided by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.