What is the SPOT Program?
The Safe Paths Of Travel Program or SPOT Program, is the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), Transportation Engineering division's, education and enforcement program. This program is designed to ensure safe path of travel for pedestrians, bicylists, transit and vehicular traffic, through and around the numerous street and pathway work sites found throughout the city. This is achieved through inspection of these work sites and the subsequent enforcement of the safety regulations detailed in the SFMTA manual, "Regulations for Working in San Francisco Streets (The Blue Book)". This manual requires that, "The Contractor (Utility, Agency, etc.) must properly plan, use, place, and maintain traffic control devices while in use at the construction site," if they are to lawfully and safely use the streets.
Why is SPOT important?
When an accident occurs at or near a construction site, 911 will be called, putting into motion, or, "On the Clock", up to 30 to 40 of the City's Emergency Responders necessary to mitigate the emergency. Each Responders' behavior potentially exposes the City to liabilities/torts. Remember, putting Emergency Responders "on the clock" is costly in many ways.
