The Redwood City Police Department (RCPD) has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on local roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts.
"The grant will aid in the City’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life," the department said in a statement.
The RCPD said it will use the funding as part of an ongoing commitment "to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education," the statement indicated.
“The Redwood City Police Department is very appreciative of the continuing support we receive from the California Office of Traffic Safety.” said Redwood City Police Chief JR Gamez. “Our collaborative relationship with the California Office of Traffic Safety is a key component in our efforts to improve traffic safety in our community.”
The grant will assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions, said the statement.
While traffic deaths from all causes declined by nearly 39 percent between 2006 and 2010 in California, state and federal officials anticipate that figures to be released soon will show a slight rise took place in 2011.
DUI deaths remain the largest sector, at nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Recent trends show increases in two new categories – distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.
Activities that the grant will fund include:
- Specialized DUI and drugged driving training, such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Drug Recognition Evaluator.
- More DUI saturation patrols
- Distracted driving enforcement
- Speed, red light and stop sign enforcement
- Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying the "worst of the worst" DUI offenders
- Stake-out operations to observe the “worst of the worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses
“Despite the recent increases, California’s roadways are still very much safer than they were before 2006,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “The Redwood City Police Department will be keeping the pressure on through enforcement and public awareness so that we can continue saving lives and reach the vision we all share – toward zero deaths, every one counts.”
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
PATCH WANTS TO KNOW - Where do you think are some of the most dangerous driving areas in Redwood City, that the police should focus on? What do you think would be the best way for the RCPD to utilize this grant money? Tell us in the comments below.
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