The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) was given $133,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Study to help implement a year-long program to prevent harm on our roadways.
The competitive grant was part of a six-month review process of which 365 applicants applied and 252 were granted, spreading some $77 million to police departments across the state.
Though traffic deaths across the state dropped a dramatic 39 percent between 2006 and 2010, state officials anticipate a rise in 2011 numbers—hence the grants being offered. While DUIs still account for the largest sector of traffic-related deaths—about 30 percent—two other key areas are rising, distracted driving and drug-impaired driving.
“We are grateful to the Office of Traffic Safety for awarding us this grant,” said Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell in a release. “In these fiscally challenging times, this grant will allow us to maintain our enforcement and education efforts to prevent and reduce injury traffic collisions and protect lives.”
Particular aspects of the program include a focus on DUI/drug-impaired driver training such as sobriety testing and enforcement, saturation patrols and enforcement efforts in motorcycle safety, distracted driving, speeding and red light/stop sign adherence.