Temecula Kicks Off Summer Safe-Driving Effort

TEMECULA, CA — In a push to raise awareness and promote safe-driving choices, the city of Temecula and local agencies are launching a summer campaign.

Such efforts include saturation deputy patrols and implementation of "traffic- calming measures" at key areas known for speeding, like the Redhawk Parkway/Vail Ranch “loop,”city officials said.

A crashed vehicle, meant to serve as a reminder to the perils of texting and driving, is on display near the theater at Promenade Temecula. Next month, a different crashed vehicle will be parked in front of City Hall to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk- or drug -impaired driving.

“Our citywide theme for 2019 is LOVE Temecula, but this is more akin to ‘tough love’ as the City of Temecula has zero tolerance for unsafe driving choices,” Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar said.

Assistance also will come from: DUITT.org (DUI Terminator Team); Riverside County Sheriff’s S.T.R.E.E.T. (Sheriff’s Takeover Racing EnforcEment Team); Southern California Association of Governments Go Human outreach; and CHP-Temecula’s distracted-driver awareness.

“A car accident should not always have the word ‘accident’ associated with it," Councilmember Zak Schwank said, "because many times it is a choice to run a red light if in a rush, speed, use a cell phone, or drive after consuming alcohol, marijuana, prescriptions, or other substances.”

Focused topics over summer will be:

• July: Distracted Drivers
• August: Drunk- and/or Drug-Impaired Driving
• September: Red-Light Runners, Speeders, Bicycling, Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety - September

What can residents do to help keep roads safe? Report reckless driving activity immediately to 911, providing, if possible, such information as vehicle description, location, direction of travel, license plate and description of driver, officials said.

During emergencies, make sure actions taken to maybe save a life are performed safely and legally: Place calls from vehicles while either parked or using hands-free systems.

The city also reminds residents that all drivers under 18 are prohibited from using phones while driving — even with a hands-free system. To further make that point, officials shared the video below, from the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on possible consequences of texting and driving: