Full Notification

The Torrance Police Department has been awarded a $240,000.00 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 Torrance 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. 

“The Torrance Police Department is proud to partner with the California Office of Traffic Safety.  Funding from this grant will assist in promoting public awareness and creating special deployments to focus on traffic safety”, says Torrance Interim Police Chief Michael Browne.

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.

 “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 Torrance Police Department, with assistance from the Office of Traffic Safety, will use these tools to help keep Torrance streets safe.” 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 Torrance Police Department supports the new effort from OTS that aims to drive 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.

Lieutenant Jeremiah Hart

Traffic and Special Events Division Commander

“See Something, Say Something”

Emergency 9-1-1

Non-Emergency: 310-328-3456

 Provided By:
Torrance Police Department –
Community Affairs Division
310-618-6391 or 310-618-6392
www.Police.TorranceCA.Gov
www.YouTube.com/TPDCommAffairs
www.Facebook.com/TorrancePD
www.Twitter.com/TorrancePD