Highway Safety Program

The purpose of the Highway Safety Program is to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on roadways by making improvements and educating the community on best practices and preventative measures.

Unfortunately, native people are disproportionately impacted by roadway crashes compared to other races. Between 2014-2018 the Pinoleville Pomo Nation has suffered 8 traffic fatalities and 51 serious injuries from automobile accidents.  With the tribe only having around 300 citizens, this issue requires immediate attention and as much support from the community as possible to prevent avoidable deaths and keep everyone as safe as possible.

The goal is to meet and exceed the program’s expectations by partnering with local authorities as well as outside organizations and coalitions (such as www.vizionzerone.org) to significantly reduce serious injuries and eliminate traffic fatalities altogether by 2040.

With your support and feedback, we can accomplish this much sooner. If you haven’t already, please take the time to fill out the traffic survey so that we can make repairs and changes as quickly as possible. Check here often for safety recalls on vehicles, car seats, and strollers as these are updated regularly. Finally, free car seats are available to parents and legal guardians of native children after attending a class on proper installation.

My name is Carlos Rodriguez, and I am the Highways Safety Specialist for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation. I am a single father from Memphis TN, but I have lived in several states before finally landing in California. Over the 20-year span of my career, I have worked primarily in management and at jobs that depended heavily on efficient communication to achieve extraordinary results in a brief amount of time. My hope is to use this experience to ensure the safety of the tribe and make the changes that need to be made as quickly as possible. I am grateful for this opportunity and because everyone has treated me like family it has had a profound impact on my life and enriched it in every possible way. It is a privilege to be a part of the team!