The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is increasing its enforcement efforts across the state during the Christmas holiday period, focusing on reducing speeding and impaired driving. The CHP’s Christmas Holiday Enforcement Period will start at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
According to a statement released Tuesday, CHP officers will concentrate on behaviors such as speeding and impaired driving, which tend to rise during holiday travel periods. Last year, over the same 30-hour period, CHP arrested more than 300 drivers for impairment and issued 2,251 speeding citations. Of those tickets, 132 were given to motorists traveling faster than 100 mph. The agency reported that at least 17 people died in crashes during that time.
“Every instance of speeding or reckless driving carries the potential for life-changing consequences,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “No destination is worth risking a life.”
Removing dangerous drivers from roadways continues to be a top priority for the CHP. Earlier this year, the agency partnered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles to launch Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST), a pilot program designed to speed up the process of removing drivers who exceed speeds of 100 mph from state roads. Under FAST, these citations are automatically sent to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch, which has authority to suspend or revoke licenses.
The CHP has also introduced 100 low-profile patrol vehicles throughout California, including Modesto. Since May, officers using these vehicles have issued nearly 33,000 speed-related citations.
In addition to increased enforcement activity, the CHP cautioned that winter weather could make driving conditions hazardous due to factors like reduced visibility and slick roads. Drivers are advised to slow down, increase following distances and stay alert for standing water or debris such as rockslides and mud.
Before heading out for holiday travel, motorists should check weather forecasts and road conditions and ensure their vehicles are properly equipped.
“Patience and preparedness are critical,” said the agency in its statement. “Arriving safely is always more important than arriving on time.”
