Police gets $145K traffic safety grant

DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department has been awarded a $145,000 state grant for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries. The police department will use the funding “as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.”

“After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions saw slight increases in 2011 and 2012,” said Police Chief Carl Charles. “Particularly worrisome are recent increases in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities and the dangers of distracting technologies.

“This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk and drugged driving and speeding.”

The grant money will fund DUI checkpoints; DUI saturation patrols; distracted driving enforcement; seat belt and child safety seat enforcement; speed, red light and stop sign enforcement; and specialized DUI and drugged driving training.

The grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration.

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Published: Nov. 13, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 31