A public education campaign targeted toward changing driver, pedestrian and bicyclist behavior to improve safety on our streets.

www.GetStreetSmarts.org

Street Smarts uses education - the Third "E" - to raise awareness of certain problem behaviors that contribute to traffic accidents and aims to change those behaviors over time.

The program works in conjunction with engineering and enforcement to calm traffic and addresses many behaviors at their root cause: with drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Street Smarts is comprised of two major elements: a media campaign and a community relations campaign. The program, launched in late November 2002, is developing partnerships with schools, neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations to address this growing community issue.

Current behaviors being addressed by the campaign are:

• Red-light running;
• Speeding;
• Stop sign violations;
• School zone violations, and
• Crosswalk violations.

Just as the lack of affordable housing or traffic congestion are community issues that are more effectively addressed at a regional level, so too must we tackle the problem of driver behavior on a regional basis, since drivers do not change their driving habits as they cross city boundaries. Toward that goal, the Street Smarts program is working to develop partnerships with Bay Area cities and other public agencies to roll the campaign out regionally.

For more information about the City of San José Street Smarts program, visit:

www.GetStreetSmarts.org