SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is strengthening its commitment
to traffic safety education in Spanish-speaking communities, thanks to
continued support from the California Office of Traffic Safety. For the
fourth time, the CHP has received the El Protector grant, which will further
its mission to provide critical traffic safety information to
Spanish-speaking populations throughout California. This initiative
underscores the CHP’s dedication to ensuring the safety of all who travel on
the state’s roads. California
takes pride in its diversity, with the Hispanic/Latino community representing
the largest ethnic group in the state, currently 15.6 million. Governor Gavin
Newsom recently proclaimed September 15 to
October 15 “Latino Heritage Month” in support of California’s Latino
community. “Our
primary goal is to improve safety on California’s roads,” said CHP
Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The El Protector program allows us to strengthen
our relationships with California’s Spanish-speaking communities by providing
crucial traffic safety tools and information that can reduce crashes and save
lives.” The
El Protector program is essential for bringing critical traffic safety
education to the communities. The program aims to reduce crashes and save
lives by making traffic safety knowledge more accessible and ensuring all
educational materials are available in Spanish. Spanish-speaking
CHP officers will lead these efforts by sharing safety tips via
Spanish-language media and conducting presentations alongside community
partners. These presentations will be held at key locations across the state,
including health fairs, migrant camps, businesses with large numbers of
Spanish-speaking employees, and Hispanic/Latino cultural events.
The presentations cover a wide range of topics including seat belt and child safety restraint use, the dangers of impaired or distracted driving, defensive driving techniques, and crash prevention strategies. Other subjects include safe driving practices for teens and parents, driver’s license requirements, and other CHP educational programs.
Funding
for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of
Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and
Security. | 
