CHP RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT SUPPORTS CHP EFFORTS TO CURB IMPAIRED DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA- press release

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nearly 1,000 lives are cut short in California every year at the hands
of an impaired driver. In an effort to save lives and reduce the number of people who suffer
injuries in alcohol-related collisions, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is engaged in a
grant-funded effort called “Impaired Driving Enforcement and Apprehension (IDEA) II.”
“Our goal with this aggressive education and enforcement campaign is to deter drivers from
making the poor decision to drink and drive,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “And those
who fail to heed this warning will be removed from the roadway and arrested.”


California has seen a reduction in the number of alcohol-involved collisions year after year.
According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, in 2009 there were 1,146
people killed in alcohol-involved collisions. The following year, in 2010, there were 972 people
killed, which represents a 15 percent decrease. Preliminary data for 2011 shows that
encouraging downward trend is continuing.
“The majority of motorists make the responsible decision and refrain from driving under the
influence,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Please choose to put the lives of your family and
other motorists first this holiday season.”
The IDEA II grant enables the CHP to conduct sobriety and driver license checkpoints, driving
under the influence (DUI) task force operations, and deployment of proactive DUI enforcement
patrol operations statewide. In addition, the CHP will educate drivers by holding local traffic
safety presentations throughout California and implementing a statewide paid media campaign.
Anti-DUI efforts stemming from the yearlong grant continue through September 30, 2013.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety
through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.