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OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
| INCIDENT: | Super Bowl LII – Motorcycle Safety Enforcement / DUI Saturation Patrols |
| DATE/TIME: | February 4, 2018 / 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| PREPARED BY: | Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator |
| CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: | Jamie Brown, Traffic Coordinator (805) 385-7749 |
Don’t Fumble: Tackle Impaired Driving Before the Clock Starts
Kickoff on America’s favorite pastime is just about ready to start. For many football fans, when it’s time for Super Bowl LII, everyone’s a fan…and Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. The California Office of Traffic Safety, Police, Sheriff and the CHP are huddling up for a special designated driver reminder to urge football fans across the nation not to drop the ball on this issue.
Prior to the start of the Super Bowl, the Oxnard Police Department will deploy additional officers who will be conducting a Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. Additional officers will also be conducting DUI Saturation Patrols specifically to stop and arrest drivers showing signs of alcohol or drug impairment during and following the game.
Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and motorcycles that are violating traffic safety laws.
Motorcycle fatalities jumped dramatically in California by over 28 percent from a decade low of 352 in 2010. In 2013, 453 motorcyclists lost their lives, which is at a 5 year high. California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning, and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by both riders and drivers alike.
Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward. Over the course of the past three years, motorcycle-involved collisions have resulted in four fatal and 111 injury crashes.
Riders are urged to get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com/ or 1-877 RIDE 411 (1-877-743-3411).
Impaired driving near or above the .08 BAC limit can be deadly, and even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment to make driving unsafe. In 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported there were 10,497 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drunk drivers nationwide. California recorded 1,059 DUI deaths at .08 BAC or above according to the NHTSA.
The Oxnard Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Drug-impaired driving is a problem on California roadways. Like drunk driving, drugged driving is impaired driving, which means it is dangerous and illegal. Whether the drug is legally prescribed, an illicit drug, or marijuana, driving while drug-impaired poses a threat to the driver, vehicle passengers, and other motorists, and driving high can lead to a DUI.
There are many other ways to ensure a safe ride home besides relying on a friend. The OTS DDVIP app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. The app offers enhanced features, allowing users to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Additionally, the app users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb.
This Super Bowl weekend, be a team player and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Don’t fumble! Designate your sober driver before the big game begins. And remember: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.
These enforcement operations are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone to be alert and ‘Report Drunk Drivers – Call 911
For any questions related to DUI and traffic enforcement, please contact Senior Officer Jamie Brown at (805) 385-7749 or via e-mail at jamie.brown@oxnardpd.org.
