UC San Diego TREDS

11/25/2025

🚦 Great News for Roadway Safety! 🚗

TREDS received two grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety to expand its safety education efforts.

🔹 Honoring Our Ancestors, Protecting Our Future
Funding will help grow this culturally grounded train-the-trainer program for Native American youth, led by Native educators, artists, and elders.

🔹 New Online Safety Courses
TREDS will also develop two self-paced courses:
• TREDwise — Get There Safely (pedestrian safety)
• A Spanish-language version of the Emmy® Award-winning The Distraction Zone (distracted driving)

These initiatives aim to make safety education more inclusive, accessible, and effective.

👉 Read the full press release!

The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego is expanding its roadway safety education efforts to reach more Californians, with a focus on Native American youth, pedestrian safety and Spanish-speaking communities.

11/20/2025

A great message from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

We’ve all heard the excuses.
“I drive better high.”
“It’s just a few blocks.”
“I’ve done this before.”
“I only had a couple.”

But excuses don’t change reality - and reality is that impaired driving kills over 10,000 people every year.

If you’re impaired, don’t get behind the wheel. Call a ride, call a friend, make a plan.
The people who love you shouldn’t have to live with your excuse.

11/18/2025

Today is National Injury Prevention Day, a reminder that most roadway injuries are preventable.

At UC San Diego TREDS, we are committed to helping drivers understand how distraction impacts reaction time, decision-making, and overall safety. Injury prevention begins with awareness and continues with action.

Let’s choose to stay focused and keep each other safe on the road.

11/07/2025

🚛 UC San Diego TREDS Publishes Two Landmark Studies on Truck Driver Safety
Featured in Traffic Injury Prevention
In 2022, nearly 6,000 people were killed in U.S. crashes involving large trucks (NHTSA). To address this issue, the UC San Diego Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS) Center has released two groundbreaking, peer-reviewed studies advancing our understanding of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety.
🔍 Study 1: AI + Naturalistic Data Collection
Using AI-powered roadside cameras, TREDS observed 160,000+ CMVs across San Diego County.
Key findings:
• ~11% of drivers engaged in unsafe behaviors
• Speeding was the most common violation
• Risk increased during early mornings and weekends
🚧 Study 2: Real-Time Work Zone Alerts
Researchers evaluated a real-time in-cab alert system at 4,080 work zones across California (over 228,000 vehicle visits). Drivers receiving alerts slowed down significantly more than the control group.
A CMV driver survey was also conducted:
• 82% said they slowed down after hearing the alert
• 83% reported paying closer attention after the alert
✅ These studies underscore TREDS’ commitment to using innovation and evidence-based strategies to protect drivers, workers, and road users statewide.

10/28/2025

Halloween & Pedestrian Safety: Let’s Keep It Fun and Safe
As everyone hits the streets for trick-or-treating remember: visibility is reduced, and unpredictable pedestrian movement becomes the norm. Pedestrians (especially kids) are harder to see, and drivers need to be extra cautious.

10/27/2025

🌙 October = Pedestrian‑Safety Month. In partnership with the with our Native American community, we invite everyone to walk safely this Halloween.
• Use crosswalks and stay on sidewalks.
• Carry a reflective vest or flashlight.
• Keep an eye out for trick‑or‑treaters, especially near curbs and driveways.
Together we can keep every trail—whether a road or a walking path—safe for all.

10/21/2025

National Teen Driver Safety Week is happening now - Oct. 19 to Oct. 25 - and Treds Ucsd is collaborating with our Native American partners on the importance of teaching teens about safety precautions behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens aged 15-18 years old in the U.S.

10/17/2025

🎃Some trick-or-treaters aren’t as obvious as Safety Sam!

With Halloween festivities happening all month, keep your eyes peeled, , and watch out for more foot traffic. Let's put safety first this spooky season 👻🧙‍♀️🐈‍⬛

10/16/2025

Today is National Do Not Disturb While Driving Day. We want to encourage everyone to use ‘do not disturb’ while driving to help prioritize . Learn more about this observance here: https://usnddc.org/news/dndwd-day/.

Find training from the leader in driver safety here: https://bit.ly/NSCddcTraining.

10/08/2025

It’s almost National Teen Driver Safety Week. Parents, educators and caregivers, you can help your teen prioritize all year. NSC has an easy-to-use toolkit with resources, including videos, posters and social posts to spread awareness. Download the resources from the NSC team here: https://bit.ly/NSCNTDSW2025.

10/07/2025

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are killed on U.S. roadways.

This month, we honor those lives by raising awareness and working toward safer streets for everyone. Whether you walk, bike, or drive, you play a role in protecting pedestrians:

✅ Drivers – Slow down, stay alert, and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
✅ Pedestrians – Use crosswalks, stay visible, and avoid distractions when crossing.
✅ Communities – Invest in safe, walkable infrastructure.

10/02/2025

Thank you Oakland Police Department for these great tips regarding illegal sideshows.

This weekend, we will increase our staffing and coordinate efforts with regional law enforcement partners to address potential sideshow activity proactively.

OPD will continue to take decisive action to disrupt sideshows and hold accountable those who put the community at risk by organizing and participating in such activities. When appropriate, this includes seeking felony criminal charges against those who elect to organize and/or facilitate these disruptive and destructive events.

If you participate in illegal sideshows in Oakland, your vehicle could be towed and seized with a 30-day hold.

Here are a few tips to help keep you safe if you encounter a sideshow.