The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety are working together to reduce collisions caused by impaired driving. The Reducing Impaired Driving II (RID II) campaign will focus on a combination of education and enforcement efforts aimed at saving lives and reducing driving under the influence (DUI). The year-long campaign continues through Sept. 30, 2016.

The CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System shows, 645 people were killed while another 10,478 others were injured in impaired driving collisions in 2013. Each of these collisions represents a preventable tragedy that had a profound effect on all those involved.

“A DUI crash or arrest can be avoided by designating a sober driver, using public transit, calling a taxi, or by staying where you are for the night,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Spending a little money to get home safely is a bargain compared to the cost of a DUI arrest. The fine for a first-offense DUI along with associated costs can exceed $15,000.”

To reduce impaired driving in California, the CHP will conduct traffic safety presentations, DUI checkpoints, and saturation patrols throughout California. These efforts are designed to raise public awareness and apprehend impaired drivers. Additionally, the CHP will actively participate in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, anti-DUI campaign.

The CHP would like to remind the public to call 9-1-1 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a location, direction of travel, and vehicle description.

The CHP will continue to make every effort to remove impaired drivers from the roadway to prevent the loss of life, injury, and property damage. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through NHTSA.