Editorial: CHP Achieves 'Less Than Seven in 2011' Goal

By Lt. April Baxter, Commander Moorpark Area CHP

On behalf of the California Highway Patrol Moorpark Area, I would like to wish the communities we serve a happy 2012. It is the CHP's mission to ensure safety and service to all California motorists.

Our goal is to reduce traffic injuries and deaths which result from traffic collisions each year. The goal is a five percent reduction over the past five-year average. To continue our efforts toward this goal the Moorpark Area created a slogan: “Less Than Seven in 2011” referring to the number of fatal collisions. The goal was achieved through the hard work and dedication of the officers who aggressively enforced the vehicle code, relentlessly looked for the impaired driver, and the combined efforts of the staff and community through traffic safety education.

The Moorpark Area investigated a total of 1,381 traffic collisions in 2011 which includes six fatal collisions. The primary cause for the fatal collisions included  driving under the influence in three cases and driving at unsafe speeds in the other three.

As a community we begin each New Year with the ultimate goal to have zero traffic fatalities. As the uniformed members continue our efforts of enforcement, we ask for your help and support to achieve our goals. It is important to remember a person’s driving ability can be impaired after only one drink and this impairment combined with driving can result in the unnecessary loss of life. Remember, if you drink, do not drive.

Moorpark CHP officers arrested 830 impaired drivers in 2011. This included alcohol-related impaired driving, as well as illegal drug and prescription medication drivers who were under the influence.

Motorists can act on their sighting of a suspected drunk driver by calling 9-1-1. CHP and other law enforcement agencies have joined to promote the use of 9-1-1 in this fashion because it can result in a timely enforcement response.

California's 2011 seat belt usage rate is an all time high, 96.6 percent. Two of our fatal victims in 2011 were not wearing a seatbelt. It only takes two seconds to buckle up. And those two seconds could literally save your life. Effective Jan. 1, children are now required to ride in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. Contact our office at 805-553-0800 or your nearest CHP office to set up an appointment to have your child safety seat inspected and to learn how to properly install your child safety seat from one of the CHP's specially-trained Child Safety Seat Technicians. This service is free.

Public education has been a priority for the California Highway Patrol. The CHP has strived to make the public aware of the consequences of DUI. Among our many educational programs is a program called Start Smart. This presentation is directed toward 15-20 year old youths who have recently or are soon to receive their driver's license. The presentation shows the realities of being a driver, the consequences of decision making while behind the wheel, and tips on how to be defensive drivers. Classes are offered monthly at the Moorpark CHP office.

Moorpark CHP officers will continue their goal of reducing collisions and providing service in 2012. They will be alert and seeking impaired motorists, speeding drivers, distracted drivers, and persons not wearing safety belts. I ask motorists to help us by doing their part by slowing down, buckling up, and not driving while impaired.

- Lt. April Baxter, Commander