Since 2015, Riverside County received funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a local Be Wiser: Teen Impaired and Distracted Driving/Speeding and Occupant Safety Program (Be Wiser/SOS).

With guidance from OTS, Be Wiser/SOS is tasked with conducting activities at the local level to support the initiative of reducing the number of persons killed or injured in traffic collisions.

Car crashes, particularly those caused by reckless and distracted driving, are the #1 cause of unintentional death for teens in America. Be Wiser/SOS actively partners with local schools, law enforcement explorer programs, and community organizations to facilitate impactful educational workshops and campaigns that bring awareness to safe driving practices, speeding and occupant safety, and impaired and distracted driving prevention.

Program Goals

Be Wiser/SOS educates, engages, and empowers youth, teens, parents, and school staff with safe driving strategies and responsible passenger techniques. Be Wiser/SOS encourages drivers and passengers to make responsible choices and use their voice to speak up to advocate for safety on the road. Be Wiser/SOS aims to change the culture of driving to one that is distraction free - thereby saving lives in all generations of drivers.

For more information regarding the Be Wiser Program, contact Rebecca Antillon, Program Director by Email [email protected] or phone (951) 358-7171.

2025 Youth Traffic Safety Summit

Riverside University Health System - Public Health (RUHS PH) is fully committed to ensuring the safety of our community members on the roads. To accomplish this goal, Be Wiser/SOS developed its first-ever Riverside County Youth Traffic Safety Summit. This pivotal event invites youth, teens, and their families from local school districts to come together and learn from traffic safety experts about the most pressing needs and challenges in our community.

Traffic safety in schools and communities starts with all of us. Join the conversation at the 1st Annual Youth Traffic Safety Summit on September 20th at the RCOE Riverside Conference Center. This free event will bring together youth advocates, families, educators, and community leaders to engage in discussions on the critical traffic safety challenges facing today's youth.

The summit will explore key topics such as impaired and distracted driving prevention and the impact of mental health on driving, offering valuable insights and practical strategies that promote safer driving habits. Attendees will leave with the tools and knowledge necessary to drive meaningful, lasting change in their communities and schools.

We encourage you to share this invitation with your community. Together, we can foster a safer driving culture and empower our youth to take charge of their driving behaviors.

Stay tuned for updates! Follow us on Instagram: @ruhspublichealth. Tag us in your photos and use the hashtag #YouthTrafficSafetySummit2025.