The Riverside Police Department's Traffic Education Unit was established in 1997 to reduce injury and death due to traffic collisions.  The Riverside Police Department has been recognized as a leader in the area of Traffic Education.  RPD was one of the first programs in Southern California with a full time dedicated coordinator.  The Traffic Education Unit is supported by state and local grants as well as partnerships with local groups and businesses. The Traffic Education Unit has taken a pro-active step to educate the citizens of our community and provide many programs in traffic safety.

Bicycle Safety Classes and Presentations

Bicycle Safety Classes cover the laws and safety practices as they apply to bicycle riding, skateboarding, in-line skating, and motorized scooters.  Children will learn the correct way to use hand signals and make safe turns. Classes can be customized for all age groups.

• Host a Bicycle Safety Class for your club or neighborhood. Classes can be customized to fit the needs you have and can be scheduled by contacting Nicolle Macarter, Traffic Education Coordinator at (951) 353-7981.

• Teachers may request safety presentations for their classrooms or an assembly for the whole school. These presentations are scheduled as requested. Schools that participate in safety presentations will have the opportunity to offer reduced cost helmets to their students. Contact Nicolle Macarter, Traffic Education Coordinator at (951) 353-7981 for more information.

• Helmet usage is encouraged by offering low cost helmets through a partnership with the Riverside County Injury Prevention Services. Children participating in bicycle safety education provided by RPD’s Traffic Education Unit are qualified to purchase a helmet at a reduced cost.

For frequently asked bicycle safety questions click here

Safety Cite is a positive reinforcement program to promote the use of helmets for bicycles, skateboards, scooters, & skates.

Juveniles that are properly wearing their helmets, obeying the law, and/or practicing proper safety skills will be "cited" by police department employees. Letters will be sent to their parents and cited children will receive a prize. Each child cited will be entered into a drawing for a new bike (donated by Riverside Optimist Club).

View a list of "cited" children.

If your child is less than 6 years old or less than 60 pounds they MUST be properly secured in an approved child restraint (car seat or booster) in the back seat of your car.
The Riverside Police Department is dedicated to preventing injuries to children every time they ride in a vehicle. Car seat fitting stations are held at the Magnolia Police Facility once every month and car seat clinics are held throughout the city of Riverside several times a year. Our fitting stations and clinics allow parents to have their car seats checked for safety and proper installation by a certified technician. The car seat is checked for any recalls, proper usage, and proper fit for the child. Low cost car seats are offered to community members who need to replace an unsafe car seat. Parents participate in the installation process to insure they will be able to secure the child properly every time. Parents, grandparents, and/or caregivers are encouraged to make an appointment.

• Car seat fitting station days and times vary to make this service available to everyone. 30-minute appointments are made for each child restraint to be checked to ensure no one will have a long wait. Appointments are made on a first come first serve basis and may be made by contacting Nicolle Macarter, Traffic Education Coordinator at (951) 353-7981.
   

• Host a car seat clinic at your location by contacting Nicolle Macarter, Traffic Education Coordinator at (951) 353-7981.
   

• Parent classes are designed for anyone that transports a child. Participants will learn how to choose the correct type of child restraint for their child, how to install the child restraint, and when to move to the next level.

This course will also cover the basics of seatbelts, airbags, and other safety tips for your children. The class will be about 2 hours and all participants in the class will be eligible to purchase a child restraint for $25.00.

Classes can be customized to fit the needs you have and can be scheduled by contacting Nicolle Macarter, Traffic Education Coordinator at (951) 353-7981.

For frequently asked car seat questions click here

The Traffic Safety Fair, scheduled for October 3rd, 2009, is an annual event presented in partnership with Castle Park. The fair is held at Castle Park in the fall and includes an in-depth look at traffic safety from car seats to drunk driving. The Riverside Police Department collaborates with various community agencies to provide a hands on approach to traffic safety. The Safety Fair is a great way for families to learn about safety while having fun!