OTS, CALTRANS HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL TRAFFIC SAFETY MONTH WITH REMINDERS TO GO SAFELY FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL

August is recognized as National Traffic Safety Month and marks the start of back-to-school season, a critical time to raise awareness and encourage safe driving practices to protect parents, guardians and children. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and Caltrans urge all Californians to remain vigilant and practice driving responsibly on the roads to protect lives and foster safer communities.

AS families gear up to return to school, the surge in traffic is expected to affect more than just commute times, particularly for Black communities. According to a recent study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, on a national level, Black people face a passenger vehicle fatality rate 73% higher than their white counterparts.

This disparity becomes even more evident as Black individuals experience a pedestrian death rate of 118% higher than white individuals, as well as a 348% higher cycling fatality rate, resulting in the highest overall traffic fatality rate per mile traveled. Here in California, Black pedestrians ex-

It’s time to go back to school

Compton students will be back in school this week. So the City of Compton hosted a backpack giveaway at Immanuel Baptist Church, which is not too far from the Compton Unified School perience a 65% higher fatality rate compared to their white counterparts.

District. A host of local vendors and businesses as well as local organizations participated in the event that took place on Aug. 12.

As students head back to the classroom, parents and residents are reminded to slow down, follow the speed limit and be extra careful driving through school n Traffic ,see page 8

D.A, Sheriff’s Department offer monetary rewards for unsolved Compton murders

In a joint press conference held at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, representatives from the Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office provided updates on four unsolved homicide cases.

Two of the unsolved murders took place in Compton. Both victims in the Compton cases were sitting in parked cars when they were killed. Keith Jackson and Estephan Hernandez were both sitting in vehicles with n Unsolved Final,see page 8