Santa Monica has been awarded a $158,000 grant from California's Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The grant was awarded for a year-long program whose aim is to reduce injuries and deaths on Santa Monica's roadways.
While traffic deaths in California declined by 11.9% in 2010, Santa Monica ranks #1 for pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents out of 104 California cities of similar size.
According to Santa Monica police chief Timothy Jackman, the grant funds will be used to target motorcycle safety, DUI offenders, drivers with revoked and suspended licenses, red light running, speeding, and seatbelt violations.
Grant funds will go towards setting up DUI and driver's license checkpoints. Grant funds will also go towards training officers to detect impaired drivers under the influence of drugs.
Grant funds will additionally be used towards reducing Santa Monica's high motorcycle accident rate. Extra officers will patrol areas and events where motorcycle crashed have occurred.