Palo Alto's streets are set to become a little safer for its younger residents. The Palo Alto Police Department is partnering with Stanford Health Care to kick-start the Juvenile Traffic Diversion Program. Dubbed a community-driven initiative, the program is designed to school juveniles cited for bicycle and pedestrian infractions on traffic safety, without the formalities of traffic court. First launched in 2009, this initiative offers an alternative approach to fines by allowing youth under 18 and their parent or guardian to attend a two-hour educational class. As reported by the City of Palo Alto, participants are given tools to safely navigate the roads while skirting the costs of their citations.
A noted uptick in youth cycling and adding electric bikes to the mix called for a fresh spotlight on juvenile traffic education. The curriculum, put on hold during the 2020 pandemic, has been scrutinized and updated to include the latest in e-bike safety concerns. This program is set to relaunch on October 1 officially. According to the City of Palo Alto, the primary goal is to ensure that young cyclists and pedestrians understand the significance of wearing helmets and obeying the rules that keep our streets safe.
Since its conception, the program has schooled over 3,500 youth and adults. Over 1,700 students have been reached through its traffic safety education. The program aims to reduce repeat offenses among the city's young and broadly raise awareness on traffic safety. For those interested in the offered classes or seeking further details, the Palo Alto Police Department encourages individuals to visit the Stanford Health Care Community Outreach Programs website or to call them at 650-724-9369 for more in-depth information.
