Whether residents are going to a barbecue, the local pool or one of our many parks, city of Santa Clarita officials encourage everyone to celebrate Labor Day safely and responsibly.

On one of the busiest holiday travel weekends, local freeways will be crowded with residents traveling to and from their destinations.

Please remember to be a Heads Up driver, pedestrian and cyclist when on the road.

For drivers, that means disconnecting from distractions, no cell phone use when behind the wheel.

For pedestrians, it is a reminder to use crosswalks and to see and be seen.

For those cyclists out enjoying our miles of beautiful trails, it is a reminder to ride with the flow of traffic and only cross at marked intersections.

The award-winning Heads Up campaign, a targeted enforcement from our Sheriff partners, and engineer enhancements – together have been very effective in driving down the number of collisions in our city.

Data from the first five months of 2018 show a downward trend in the number of collisions. Currently, total collisions in Santa Clarita are down 12 percent. There has also been a six-percent reduction in the number of collisions causing injury, as well as a 10 percent drop in the number of collisions involving bicyclists.

Even with this steady decline in the number of traffic collisions, the city continues to urge residents to take responsibility when behind the wheel.

That means no drinking and driving. If you do plan on raising a glass with family and friends, make sure to designate a driver or use a ride service.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will also be contributing to safer roadways by looking out for drunk drivers over the holiday weekend using DUI saturation patrols. Deputies utilize data to best place resources for these targeted operations.

“If you are going to consume alcohol, plan ahead,” said SCV Sheriff’s Station Traffic Office Sergeant Scott Shoemaker. “Use alternative transportation to get home, such as a designated driver, taxi or ride-sharing service. There are so many options available that there really is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking.”

The city has always made safety on our streets a top priority. Residents can do their part by taking advantage of the city’s educational resources to ensure that roadways will be safer for everyone this holiday weekend.

For more information about the traffic safety campaign, visit santa-clarita.com/Heads-Up.