Temecula Valley CHP to conduct regional crash reduction campaign

TEMECULA – Saving lives is the core mission of the California Highway Patrol. To accomplish this mission, the CHP Temecula Area office will use a federal grant to conduct a regional traffic safety campaign in Riverside County. The project starts Oct. 1, 2020, and ends Sept. 30, 2021.

The Temecula Area will deploy officers on enhanced enforcement on Interstates 15 and 215; State Routes 74, 79 and 371; and unincorporated roads where the CHP Temecula Area has jurisdiction in Riverside County.

This traffic safety effort will also include a community-based task force and a public awareness and education campaign to reinforce key traffic safety messages.

“With a proactive approach to make the roadways safer, we will continue to reduce the number of injury and fatal crashes occurring in Riverside County,” said CHP Captain Jason Penner, Commander of the Temecula Area office. “The men and women of the CHP Temecula Area are committed to saving lives, and this grant will build on the momentum achieved from past education and enforcement campaigns.”

According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018, there were 1,306 people injured and killed in motor vehicle crashes on state highways and unincorporated roads patrolled by the CHP Temecula Area office.

The top primary crash factors were unsafe speed, improper turning, unsafe lane change, impaired driving and automobile right-of-way violations. In addition to enhanced enforcement, officers will be vigilant and enforce distracted driving and occupant restraint violations.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.