Full Notification

- The Corona Department has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries. The funding will be used for the City’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through enforcement and education.

“Unsafe behaviors account for 94 percent of traffic crashes,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “This grant emphasizes the two most effective ways to change behaviors – education and enforcement. The Corona Police Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools to help keep the City of Corona streets safe.”

After falling to a ten year low in 2010, the number of persons killed on roadways has climbed nearly 17 percent across the state, with 3,429 fatalities in 2015. Particularly alarming is the rise in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities that now comprise nearly 25 percent of all traffic deaths along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies and the emergence of drug-impaired driving. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as speeding and crashes at intersections.

“The rise in impaired drivers is very concerning,” said Chief of Police Michael Abel. “The Corona Police Department is dedicated to reducing the amount of impaired drivers by education through our Drive 4 Life program, proactive enforcement operations, and our community outreach.”

Activities that the grant will fund include:

• Educational presentations
• DUI checkpoints
• DUI saturation patrols
• Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement
• Motorcycle safety enforcement
• Distracted driving enforcement
• Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
• Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement

While alcohol remains the worst offender for DUI crashes, The Corona Police Department supports the new effort from OTS that aims to increase awareness that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription medications and marijuana can also be impairing by themselves, or in combination with alcohol and can result in a DUI arrest.

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you have any information about this Office of Traffic Safety Grant, please contact Sergeant Michael Nielsen at 951-739-4885 or email [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT:
Detective Andy Bryant
Public Information Officer
951-279-3572
[email protected]