SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today a partnership with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) aimed at raising awareness and educating drivers on safe travel behaviors, especially in and around highway work zones.

The OTS and Caltrans will display digital messages, signs and audio public service announcements at the CIF State Wrestling Championships in February, Basketball Championships in March, and the Swim & Dive and Track & Field Championships in May encouraging student-athletes, parents and families to always “Be Work Zone Alert” and “move over” for highway workers, or slow down if unable to do so.

“Traffic Safety is a team sport and we’re thrilled to team up with the CIF to encourage safe driving behaviors,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Engaging youth is a great play to help reach our Vision Zero Initiative’s goal to eliminate traffic-related severe injuries and deaths.”

“Traveling safely is a game plan that’s always a win,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “We are excited to partner with the CIF to relay important traffic safety messages to student-athletes, parents and fans that everyone can get behind.”

“We are happy to have California OTS and Caltrans as partners,” said Bryan Powell, General Sales Manager for CIF Sports Properties. “Traveling safely to and from CIF events is incredibly important, and we are pleased to share this messaging with the attendees of our upcoming championship events.”

Additional messaging and content will focus on safe and responsible driving, including awareness about California’s hands-free cell phone law and the risks of distracted driving, as well as reminding drivers to slow down and “Share the Road” by looking out for bicyclists and pedestrians.

In addition, traffic safety messages will appear on social media, the CIF state website, and the CIF Sports 365 mobile app.

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens in the United States. In 2021, there were more than 17,000 fatal and injury crashes involving teen drivers across California, according to data from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.

Student-athletes, parents and fans are encouraged to join the Go Safely Movement and sign up as “traffic safety champions” for their families and communities.

To learn more about efforts to save lives on California roads, visit gosafelyca.org and follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GoSafelyCA.