HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_10_15_STEP kickoff release2011
Bakersfield Police Department PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: DATE: 10-15-10 Lt. Mitchell Willoughby 326-3731 willoughby@bakersfieldpd.us BAKERSFIELD POLICE COMMENCE SPECIAL
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM In a continuing effort to save lives and prevent injuries on our city streets, the Bakersfield Police Department is expanding their regular traffic enforcement
with special operations. These operations are funded by a recent $489,445.00 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Special
traffic enforcement measures will be instituted by the Bakersfield Police Department as law enforcement continues their commitment to keeping our roadways safe through both enforcement
and education. “The Bakersfield Police Department is committed to ensuring traffic safety on city roadways, including increasing enforcement events that directly impact the number of
motorists injured or killed every year on our local streets”, Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson said. The STEP grant is to assist in efforts to deal with traffic safety problems
and to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions. Traffic deaths from all causes declined in 2009 in California by 10.3 percent from 3,434 killed in 2008
to 3,081 in 2009. The state recorded 950 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2009, a 7.6 percent decline from 1,025 in 2008. However, DUI related deaths remain at 31 percent of fatalities.
“Everyone in California should be heartened with these figures,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “But as encouraging as this is,
we can’t let up on the efforts to encourage and enforce traffic safety. Thousands are still losing their lives or being severely injured on our roadways.” The grant activities will specifically
target DUI offenders, drivers operating on a suspended or revoked license, illegal street racing, red light running, special motorcycle safety enforcement, court sting operations, warrant
sweeps, at or near intersection operations and seat belt violations. This will be done through the use of DUI/drivers license checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, and other special enforcement
operations. The grant also provides funding for new safety equipment and overtime to conduct special enforcement activities.
For the second year in a row officers will conduct 5 special Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations. Motorcycle fatalities have finally turned and dropped in California, following
a decade rise in deaths. In 2009, 393 motorcyclist were killed, a 29 percent drop from 2008 statistics. Sadly, California remains one of 3 states that still lead the nation in motorcyclist’s
deaths. Bakersfield Police Officers will be conducting specialized enforcement efforts throughout the course of the next year. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented
by motorcycles. Officers will be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists, and other vehicle drivers, that result in far too many motorcycle collisions, injuries and
deaths. “More people are making it home safely and alive each day,” said Murphy. “But to keep this trend going, we will continue to strive to meet our vision – Toward zero deaths, every
1 counts.” Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. # # #