Escondido CA— Local law enforcement agencies to announce creation of ‘AVOID THE 8 ON 78’, a new task force formed to reduce impaired driving deaths along State Route 78 in the North County at a press conference set for this Friday evening, November 21, 2014. The task force consists of North County enforcement agencies from Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Cal State San Marcos, the city of San Marcos, Escondido, Palomar College and the California Highway Patrol.
The announcement will be made at the Escondido Police and Fire Headquarters, located 1163 North Centre City Parkway, 6:00 p.m., Friday November 21. Speakers will include Police Chiefs and commanders from the eight agencies along SR 78. In addition, California State Assembly Member Marie Waldron, County Supervisor Dave Roberts, members of the Alcohol Policy Panel along with a representative from MADD.
Impaired driving is among the deadliest of crimes in San Diego County. During fiscal year 2013, 70 people were killed and 2,236 people were injured in alcohol-impaired crashes throughout the county, according to the CHP.
SR 78 has its own grim statistics: Between 2010 and 2013, the Highway Patrol alone made 1,655 DUI arrests along the 78. During that same period, 207 impaired drivers caused an injury crash – including one collision that killed three people on SR 78.
This problem costs everyone, even if you don’t drink and drive. The City of Escondido alone expended in excess of $100,000 in public safety resources just to respond to DUI’s and alcohol related crashes on its portion of SR 78.
The numbers:
Along State Route 78

• Between 2010 to 2013, the California Highway Patrol alone made 1,655 DUI arrests along State Route 78.
• Of those impaired drivers, 207 offenders caused an injury crash – including one collision that killed three people on SR 78.
• Between 2010 and July of this year, Escondido police arrested 133 DUI drivers along that city’s stretch of SR 78 — including 24 impaired drivers that caused injury crashes.

DUIs in San Diego County

• Locally, one out of three people killed in vehicle crashes are killed by in an alcohol related incident.
• During fiscal year 2013, 70 people were killed and 2,236 people were injured in alcohol-impaired crashes throughout the county, according to the CHP.

Costs

• This problem costs everyone, even if you don’t drink and drive.
• The City of Escondido expended in excess of $100,000 in public safety resources just to respond to DUI’s and alcohol related crashes on our portion of SR 78.
• Each of the eight cities along SR 78 paid about the same.
• Impaired drivers can expect jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000, not to mention the embarrassment when friends and family find out.

Proven Strategy:
Avoid the 8 on 78 will conduct vigorous saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints. When aggressively promoted, these have proven to be the most effective of any of the DUI enforcement strategies, yielding considerable cost savings for taxpayers.
Research shows that dollar spent on DUI enforcement and prevention strategies saves taxpayers $6 in subsequent health and safety costs, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.