Irvine, CA (Nov. 6, 2015): The Irvine Police Department (IPD) has been awarded a $421,592 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for special enforcements and education efforts to keep roadways safe and prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries.
According to OTS, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions have been on the rise since 2010. The year-long grant will provide funding for DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) checkpoints and patrols, targeted enforcement of distracted or speeding drivers, educational presentations, and other traffic safety enforcement. “Overall, California’s roadways are among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “But to meet future mobility, safety, and accessible transportation objectives, we have to reverse this recent trend in order to reach our common goal – zero deaths on our roadways. The Office of Traffic Safety and the Irvine Police Department want to work with everyone to create a culture of traffic safety across Irvine and the state.”Activities that the grant will fund include:
- Educational presentations
- DUI checkpoints
- DUI saturation patrols
- Motorcycle safety enforcement
- Distracted driving enforcement
- Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
- Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement
- Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
- Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Drug Recognition Evaluator
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.For more information, contact IPD Sergeant Matt August at 949-724-7023.
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