Section III. Snapshots of the Existing System and Future Projects
8. Safety Programs
California Highway Patrol Quick
Facts
- Staff:
- 58 Regular Officer Positions in Santa Cruz County
- 5 Sergeant Positions
- 1 Lieutenant
- 1 Captain
- Average of 241 Total Accidents per Month for 2005 or 2,892 for the year.
- Injury Accidents for 2005: Average of 58 Injury accidents per month or 696 for the year.
- Property Damage Only for 2005: Average of 183 Property Damage Only per month or 2,196 per year.
- Fatal Accidents: Average of 1.6 per month or 20 fatal accidents for the year.
- DUI Accidents: Average of 20 DUI accidents per month or 242 DUI Accidents for the year.
- DUI Arrests: Average of 92 DUI arrests per month or 1,101 DUI Arrests for the year.
- Enforcement Contacts for 2005: Average 3,088 per month or 37,062 per year. (Not citations, but enforcement stops).
For more information: view the CHP website.
Underfunded Programs
"Safe on 17" - Highway 17 Safety Corridor Project
This project is aimed at reducing collisions and improving motorist safety on Highway 17 between the cities of Santa Cruz and Los Gatos.
The Safe on 17 Task Force - which includes CHP, local law enforcement and fire departments, Caltrans, RTC, and the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and elected officials - investigates the number of collisions in the Highway 17 corridor and implements strategies to reduce them.
Improvements have included enhanced CHP enforcement, road improvements, and public education programs.
· Cost of Enhanced CHP Enforcement: $100,000/year
$50,000 covers:
- 51 officer hours per month (612 hours per year)
- 6.6 Sergeant hours per month (80 Sergeant hours per year)
- 10,065 miles per year average
· Funding Needed: $150,000/year
- 150 officer hours per month (1800 hours per year)
- 20 Sergeant hours per month (240 for the year)
- 30,000 miles per year average
· Completion Date: Ongoing, depending on continued funding
For more detailed information: read the 2004 Safe on 17 Annual Report
Current Programs
Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grants
CHP occasionally receives Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grants through Sacramento for programs. Typically these grants fund special programs for one year. Current programs include:
- Statewide Enforcement and Education Operations Targeting DUI (STOP DUI)
- Statewide Impaired Driving High Visibility Enforcement (SIDHVE)
- California Seatbelt Compliance Campaign II (Seatbelt Compliance)
Underfunded Projects / Programs
Proposed County Road Enforcement
For all aspects of Primary Collision Causing Accidents added enforcement would significantly improve safety on our highways and local roads.
- Cost: $100,000 per year
- Schedule: Dependent on funding availability
Speed Enforcement
Purchase 10 Lidar units. Specific use for SR-17 and SR-1 and assorted County Roads. Lidar hand held units have a narrow specific target field and is an effective tool for speed enforcement.
- Proposed Radar Trailers: Two Radar trailers are needed for deployment throughout the County
- Trailer Cost: Less than $10,000 dollars
- Lidar Unit Cost: $15,000
- Schedule: Dependent on funding availability
Solar operated Radar signs on County roads and SR-17
Add approximately 40 signs posted on various streets around the County. This would assist with the placement of portable Radar Trailers.
- Cost: Unknown
Education in Area Schools and Community Meetings
Teach safe driving, seatbelt, road safety on SR-17 and child safety seats, etc. Add 8 officer hours and 2 Sergeant hours per month.
- Total cost with office supplies: $10,400 per year
- Schedule: Dependent on funding availability
Highway 17 Public Information Office:
Acquire Mobile Home or existing building rented for SR-17 at Deer Creek Restaurant (near the summit) to provide information and assistance to motorists, including directions, citation sign-off, educational safety for Hwy 17. Add electrical hook-up, phone, fax and computer DSL lines.
- Cost: Unknown, possible community support and donations.
Solar operated Radar signs on County roads and SR-17
Add approximately 40 signs posted on various streets around the County. This would assist with the placement of portable Radar Trailers.
- Cost: Unknown