Carlsbad Police Department Gets Grant​ For Traffic Safety Programs

CARLSBAD, CA — The Carlsbad Police Department announced it will increase its traffic safety programs in an effort to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on local roads after receiving a $200,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"This grant from the state will support the city's vision of reducing traffic collisions and injuries and improving roadway safety for all through education and enforcement," Carlsbad police Lt. Alonso DeVelasco said.

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected 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, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2024.