Recently a fellow LA mom, Bethany Winters, commented on Twitter that she just picked up her signs for her neighborhood from Watch The Road. I immediately asked her how she got them and said I want them too. I was then introduced to Luz Echavarria of Watch The Road. Not only will I be picking up 10 signs for my neighborhood but Luz let me interview her for Fix The Toaster. Thank you Luz! Read about Watch the Road below.
How was Watch The Road started? By Whom?
The Department of Transportation traffic education program "Watch the Road" began in 2004 in an effort to change raise awareness, by changing driver behavior which subsequently reduces crashes. Watch the Road website was launched for the purpose of reaching out to local residents, neighborhood councils and other city agencies so we may work together. The Department of Transportation was awarded several grants to develop messages and distribute them using various venue. The lawn signs have been one of our most successful method of getting our message out and reminding local residents to slow down. In addition we've received two Emmy awards for our Watch the Road Public Service Announcements (PSA). You can view the PSA and see the different campaign message targeting driver, pedestrians and bicyclist. Just visit our website www.watchtheroad.org
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Are the signs just for LA residents?
The lawn signs are available for residents living in the City of Los Angeles limits free of charge. However other cities and county residents can purchase our lawn signs if they are interested, I will provide them with our vendor contact information.
Are you an LA mom?
Yes, I've lived in LA the majority of my life. I immigrated to the US as a small child and was raised in Los Angeles.
Is your neighborhood safe to walk?
Yes, I live in a beautiful residential area, whereby my children walk to school and the local park is just thee blocks away. Most of the local residents walk in my neighborhood.
What do you hope to achieve with your program?
The primary purpose of the Watch the Road program is to raise awareness about good habits while driving, walking and bicycling. Educating the public about traffic safety is crucial given the growing number of people interested using public transportation, bicycling or walking to the local activity centers. With the increase of bicycle lanes, and bike sharing programs in Los Angeles, educating the public about sharing the road and being aware of the current rules and regulations is crucial in order to provide a safe enviorment for all transportation users.
