CHP JOINS I-10 CHALLENGE TO SAVE LIVES “10-8 on 10, One Road One Mission”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is joining seven other state
highway patrol agencies across the nation to participate in the “I-10 Challenge,” which sets a
goal of zero fatalities on the 2,450 miles of Interstate 10 from California to Florida during the
Labor Day holiday weekend. The CHP plans to achieve this goal by enhancing traffic safety
through education and enforcement along this section of the national highway system from
12:01 a.m. Friday, August 30, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 2.


The I-10 Challenge coincides with CHP’s Annual Labor Day Maximum Enforcement Period
(MEP). During the CHP’s Labor Day MEP, all available CHP officers will be on patrol. The
MEP campaign is focused not only on the I-10 but throughout California to help ensure everyone
has a safe holiday weekend.
With greater public awareness of the dangers and consequences of breaking traffic laws, lives are
saved. The slogan for the campaign is “10-8 on I-10.” Typically, 10-8 is a term used by law
enforcement to indicate they are in service or on duty, and signifies the intent to have as many
officers as possible patrolling the roadways to keep motorists safe during this holiday weekend.
“After the tremendous support shown by the people of California during a similar effort on I-80
in July, we are excited to partner with highway patrol agencies across the nation and challenge
the people of California to drive safe this Labor Day holiday weekend,” said CHP Commissioner
Joe Farrow. “We hope to accomplish our goal by educating motorists about the leading causes
of traffic collisions and encouraging the people of California to follow the rules of the road and
drive safely.”
The “I-10 Challenge” was organized by the Florida State Highway Patrol after the overwhelming
success of the “I-80 Challenge” along Interstate 80 in July. Statistically, someone dies in a
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collision every four days on Interstate 10 in California. A majority of these collisions and
roadway deaths can be avoided if motorists follow basic traffic safety rules. Education and
enforcement will focus on drivers who fail to obey the posted speed limit, seat belt violations,
distracted driving, and those who choose to drink and drive.
The CHP and its law enforcement partners across the nation are joining with motorists to accept
the “I-10 Challenge” by promoting safe driving along the route. During the four-day holiday
period, the CHP will increase traffic safety operations to educate and, if necessary, cite drivers
who violate traffic laws along the stretch of Interstate 10 that begins in Santa Monica and travels
through Los Angeles, Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Palm Springs, and Indio to the
Arizona state line.
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than
21,000 passenger vehicle occupants across the nation were killed in traffic crashes in 2011. Of
those fatalities, 52 percent were not wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
Approximately 9,900 people were killed in drunk driving collisions, with more than 3,330 killed
in collisions involving a distracted driver. Nearly 10,000 lives were lost in speed-related
collisions. That number increased to over 34,000 lives lost in traffic collisions in 2012, a 5.3
percent increase.
Analyzing Interstate 10 collision data from 2006 to 2010 during the Labor Day holiday weekend
across California reveals 447 collisions with 256 people injured and two lives lost during that
timeframe.
“The California Highway Patrol wants you to have an exciting and fun Labor Day holiday
weekend but remember to follow these basic traffic safety rules: always wear a seat belt, drive at
a speed safe for roadway conditions, eliminate distractions while driving, and always designate a
sober driver,” added Commissioner Farrow.