Paso Robles Police Department has been awarded a $130,100
grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long
enforcement and public awareness program. The traffic safety program is
intended to educate the public on safe roadway habits and deter people from
violating traffic laws or practicing other unsafe behaviors that lead to
injuries and fatalities.
“We are excited to again partner with the California Office of Traffic
Safety(OTS) to focus on education and enforcement of our traffic safety plan”
Chief Ty Lewis.
The grant from OTS will fund various education and
enforcement activities for the 2019 federal fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept.
30, 2019):
- DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to take
suspected alcohol/drug-impaired drivers – and those unlicensed or with a
revoked/suspended license – off the road.
- Traffic safety education presentations for youth
and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving, and
bicycle/pedestrian safety.
- Patrols at intersections with increased
incidents of pedestrian and bike collisions.
- Checking for seat belt and child safety seat
compliance.
- Motorcycle safety operations in areas with high
rider volume and where higher rate of motorcycle crashes occur.
- Speeding, red light and stop sign enforcement.
- Warrant service operations targeting multiple
DUI offenders.
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying
repeat DUI offenders
- Probation supervision for high-risk DUI
offenders.
- Specialized DUI and drugged driving training to
identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers.
In 2016, 3,623 people were killed in crashes across the
state, a 7 percent increase from 2015, according to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Particularly alarming is the rise in
pedestrian deaths, with 867 pedestrians killed on California roadways in 2016,
a nearly 33 percent increase from 2012. Along with the growing dangers of
distracting technologies like phones and drug-impaired driving, this grant
funding will provide opportunities to combat these dangerous and illegal
behaviors.
“Almost all crashes are preventable,” OTS director Rhonda
Craft said. “Education and enforcement go hand in hand helping change behaviors
that cause devastating crashes.”
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the
California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.