Santa Clara, Calif. – December 22, 2005 – A new, comprehensive database of traffic collision information will be launched in the City of Santa Clara in 2006, thanks to a grant of $39,700 from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety. The grant will be used to purchase, install and train staff on new software.

Santa Clara contains approximately 250 miles of paved roads and three freeways. Each year there are more than 1,200 traffic collisions. Having a database of historical collision data will help both the City’s Police Department and the Traffic Engineering Division to identify safety issues as they develop.

"Traffic patterns change and it is important for us to be able to pinpoint frequent collision locations in a timely, efficient manner so that we can take corrective action," said Traffic Engineer Dave Pitton of the City of Santa Clara. "Having computerized data will improve access and accuracy of our records."

“This grant uses the latest technology to track collisions that will ultimately save lives and prevent injuries,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety, which funded the grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The database will include such information as the date, time, location, and primary collision factor and correlate it with roadway design, visibility, traffic volumes, signal timing and other factors.

"Our goal is to increase safety for the people who live, work and visit the City of Santa Clara," Pitton said. "This will allow us to better analyze and respond to critical traffic safety issues."

For more information, call Traffic Engineer Dave Pitton at (408) 615-3021 or email him at dpitton@santaclaraca.gov.