Ryan ChartrandExpect more lights, cameras and action on San Luis Obispo streets as the city police department received a $54,000 state grant, funding a two-year program focused on reducing traffic collisions and drunken drivers.
The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded the grant to the San Luis Obispo Police Department in October to help with the purchase of new equipment and enforcement of specific traffic measures. The Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) involves nearly 50 special enforcement units that will “focus on our high traffic areas,” said grant director Sgt. John Bledsoe of the San Luis Obispo Police Department. The highest collision rates occur on Monterey Street, Foothill Boulevard and the intersection of Santa Rosa and Marsh streets.
Officers will focus more on catching drunken drivers, red-light runners and those not wearing seatbelts. The additional 50 police units will ideally decrease the amount of car accidents in the city.
“We have an overwhelming amount of traffic collisions because of the traffic volume,” Bledsoe said.
The grant enables the city to purchase four speed limit/radar display signs to deter speeding drivers, as well as employing extra enforcement for additional traffic checkpoints. Officers will also receive a “hot sheet,” listing offenders who have repeatedly driven under the influence.
“DUIs are a huge problem on the street. Last year alone there were more than 300 DUIs,” Bledsoe said.
Drunken drivers not only create a problem for themselves, but also for those around them. The city police department arrested at least 75 people last year for DUI collisions and that only includes those who were caught. STEP aims to make the streets safer by catching those who are drinking and driving, and deterring those who are thinking about it.
“I think it will make me feel safer driving at night, especially when I’m driving home from a party or from downtown,” psychology junior Dale Parker said.
This program will put more officers on the streets to