The Ventura Police Department proudly announces that it secured a $228,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to bolster life-saving enforcement and education-based activities. This grant allows officers to actively champion safe driving practices, empower cyclists and pedestrians to navigate roads with confidence, and deliver vital education on the significance of road sharing.
“Receiving this grant funding is critical to the success of our outreach programs and the safety of our community,” said Corporal David Curtis. “With this funding, we can continue to enforce important traffic safety laws, deter driving under the influence, and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling. We can truly save lives.”
Grant funds will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:
DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping impaired drivers.
High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”
The grant program will run through September 2024.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
