Ed. Note: This is the first in an occasional series looking at the city’s efforts to maintain traffic safety, including upgrades to traffic systems, enforcement and its outreach campaign.

The city of Santa Clarita is looking to get the message out about unsafe driving.

Officials noted the recent uptick in the collision rate, after a decade that saw mostly declines. There were 432 vehicle crashes reported in 2015, for example, and 347 in 2013, and 354 in 2014.

Most concerning, the number of fatal pedestrian-involved collisions in 2015 (4) increased of the previous two years combined (3); and there were seven fatal vehicle collisions last year — after only three in 2013-14 combined.

Recently, the citywide “DriveFocusLive” campaign is asking all drivers, and especially new ones, to take a safe-driving pledge, as part of an effort to reward the recognition of better driving habits.

Along with the anticipated uptick in holiday driving, KHTS AM-1220 is looking at the city’s efforts to make Santa Clarita’s roads safer in this occasional series.

The city and Sheriff’s Department track intersections and stretches of SCV roads where crashes and speed are more prevalent, and address resources accordingly, according to Sgt. Shoemaker, who leads the Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Division.

Santa Clarita Valley deputies, which have partnered with the city in the renewed push for driver safety, also offered a few cautions.

“I would say the biggest thing is that people need to be patient and slow down,” Shoemaker said. “Everybody doesn’t need to be in a hurry to be anywhere.”

A collision report indicates in 2015, an average of more than a collision a week, 58 total, were reported on a stretch of Soledad Canyon Road between Whites Canyon Road and Sierra Highway, the highest total for any one areas among several highly trafficked zones that were analyzed.

There was one fatal collision last year in that stretch. And thus far, 2016 has seen two fatal vehicle versus pedestrian collisions on Sierra Highway near Soledad.

The other top stretched for collisions in 2015 included Soledad from Valley Center to Camp Plenty, 51; Bouquet Canyon Road from Magic Mountain to Valencia, 35; Newhall Ranch, from Bouquet to Golden Valley Road, 32; Valencia, from Rockwell Canyon Road to McBean Parkway, 27; and about a half-dozen other highly trafficked stretches throughout the SCV.

In the last two years for which complete data is available, 2014-15, Santa Clarita saw a 14 percent increase overall in vehicle collisions and a 24 percent increase in pedestrian-involved traffic collisions. The city also experienced a nearly 20 percent increase in its population over the last five years, through growth and annexations.

Weather also plays a significant factor in crashes, Shoemaker reminded, and wet roads should require slowing down and headlights.

“If your windshield wipers are on, your headlights should be on, per state law,” Shoemaker said. “Everything revolves around speed when it comes to wet roads — stopping time, your ability to hydroplane and visibility.”

One of the most common solutions is one that’s often overlooked, according to Shoemaker.

“Give yourself a little more time,” Shoemaker said. “This is the time of giving, give some patience to your fellow drivers.”