Carlsbad CA— The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded the City of Carlsbad Police Department a $100,000 grant for a year-long Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).
The goal of the OTS grant is to reduce the number of persons killed or injured in traffic collisions twenty-four hours a day. This includes collisions involving motorcycles and bicycles, and collisions that are the result of a hit-and-run. The OTS grant also focuses on collisions caused by alcohol, drugs or other related factors.
As part of the OTS grant the Police Department will be promoting safe, collision-free driving through year-long campaigns. The campaigns include:

• National Walk to School Day – October 5, 2016
• National Teen Driver Safety Week – October 16-22, 2016
• NHTSA Winter Mobilization – December 16, 2016 – January 1, 2017
• National Distracted Driving Awareness Month – April 2017
• National Bicycle Safety Month – May 2017
• National Motorcycle Safety Month – May 2017
• National Click It or Ticket Mobilization – May 17-20, 2017
• NHTSA Summer Mobilization – August 19, 2017 – September 6, 2017
• National Child Passenger Safety Week – September 17-23, 2017
• California’s Pedestrian Safety Month – September 2017

The department will also be participating in:

• DUI checkpoints to enhance the overall deterrent effect and promote high visibility
• DUI saturation patrols
• Distracted driving enforcement that focuses on hand held devices and texting
• Pedestrian and bicycle specialized enforcement to promote safety
• Specialized training to include Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)

OTS facts from California demonstrate the need for local, state and national traffic safety collaboration. According to OTS, in 2014 there were 3,074 traffic related fatalities. Alcohol, drugs or other impairments played a role in 882 of the fatal collisions. Motorcycle riders were involved in 519 of the fatal collisions and teen drivers were involved in 220 of the fatal collisions. Pedestrians were involved in 697 of the fatal collisions and 183 of the pedestrians were over the age of 65. Finally, 128 bicyclist were involved in fatal collision.
“Years of research tells us that enforcement and education work best jointly to combat unsafe driving,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “This STEP grant brings both tactics together, with the Office of Traffic Safety and the Carlsbad Police Department working in concert to help keep the streets and highways safe across Carlsbad and the State.”
“Participating in statewide OTS programs like STEP that promote community collaboration toward traffic safety is a great example of the partnerships necessary to keep everyone that travels Carlsbad’s roadways safe,” noted Carlsbad Police Chief Neil Gallucci. “Working together we can drive lawfully and carefully, without distractions and ensure everyone gets home safely.”
Funding for this program comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.