Evaluation

2026 SafeTREC program applications are now open!

November 21, 2025
Apply now for our 2026 programs!

A group of twelve people wearing fluorescent safety vests stand together to discuss roadway conditions and concerns.

The UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) is excited to announce applications are now being accepted for...

California Safe System Institute for Road Safety Executive Summary

UC Berkeley SafeTREC
2025

In the summer of 2025, the UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) conducted a Needs Assessment to explore the need for, and interest in, a program to support and nurture California communities’ road safety work to align with an effective Safe System Approach. As part of the Assessment, interviews and surveys were conducted, finding strong interest in such assistance, particularly for peer learning, leadership support opportunities, and more concrete examples of successes to inform individual communities’ work.

Impact of the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training: Program Insights from the 2025 Follow-Up Survey

Kyler Blodgett
Chen, Katherine L.
2025

The Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training Program (CPBST) is a collaborative effort between the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) at the University of California Berkeley and California Walks (Cal Walks) with funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Its main objective is to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety by educating residents and safety advocates, empowering community partners to advocate for safety improvements in their neighborhoods, and fostering collaboration between community participants, local officials, and agency staff....

2025 California Traffic Safety Survey released: Speeding, aggressive driving continue to be concerns

July 9, 2025

UC Berkeley SafeTREC has released the California Traffic Safety Survey 2025. The study was led by Ewald & Wasserman Research Consultants (E&W) and conducted on behalf of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and SafeTREC. The California Traffic Safety Survey has been conducted annually since 2010, and this year's survey was conducted...

NEW: Updated Safe System Approach Toolkit

July 8, 2025
UC Berkeley SafeTREC is excited to share an update and refresh to our Safe System Approach toolkit, including new strategies, easier navigation, and more!

Covers of the English and Spanish versions of the Safe System Toolkit

Our toolkit, ...

California Traffic Safety Survey 2025

Ewald, Katrin
Wasserman, Lisa
2025

The 2025 Traffic Safety Public Opinion Study was conducted for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center of UC Berkeley (SafeTREC). The findings of the 2025 Study are based on a sample size and eligibility criteria similar to previous years of data collection. A total of 2,319 responses were collected in April and May 2025 using an online selfadministered survey. Similar to previous years of the study, the survey panelists were provided through Marketing Services Group, a commercial sample and panel vendor.

The survey...

Bicycle Helmet Use: Workbook and Guide for Evaluating Community-Based Programs

Geyer, Judy
Cooper, Jill F.
Ragland, David R.
2003

Two thirds of bicycle deaths occur as a result of traumatic brain injury; 88% of these injuries can be prevented by a helmet. In 1994, the State of California passed a law requiring all bicyclists under the age of 18 to wear helmets. Despite these legal obligations, many bicyclists still do not wear helmets. The estimates of bicycle helmet use is disparate throughout the state, with some communities reporting up to 80% use and others, especially inner-city areas, reporting less than 10% use.

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) provides grants for bicycle helmet education...

2024 California Traffic Safety Survey Summary

Lisa Peterson
Karen Nguyen Vo
2024

The UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) has released the California Traffic Safety Survey 2024. The study was led by Ewald & Wasserman Research Consultants (E&W) and conducted on behalf of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and SafeTREC.

The California Traffic Safety Survey has been conducted annually since 2010 to gain a better understanding of a range of traffic safety behaviors, and to help inform traffic safety programs and public education campaigns. This year’s survey was conducted with an online panel of California...

Evaluate the Safety Effects of Adopting a Stop-as-Yield Law for Cyclists in California

Iman Mahdinia
Julia B. Griswold
Rafael Unda
Soheil Sohrabi
Offer Grembek
2024

The escalating number of injuries and fatalities among cyclists is a pressing safety concern. In the United States, communities are actively seeking strategies to boost cyclist safety, with some states implementing bike-specific policies, such as stop-as-yield laws, to support cyclists. Stop-as-yield laws allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs. The laws are not yet widely implemented, and their potential safety impact is a subject of debate among transportation experts and advocates. This study investigates how stop-as-yield laws can positively or negatively affect safety and...

Impact of the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training: Program Insights from the 2024 Follow-Up Survey

Kyler Blodgett
Chen, Katherine L.
2024

The Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training Program (CPBST) is a collaborative effort between the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SafeTREC) at the University of California Berkeley and California Walks (Cal Walks) with funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Its main objective is to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety by educating residents and safety advocates, empowering community partners to advocate for safety improvements in their neighborhoods, and fostering collaborations with local officials and agency staff....