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Local law enforcement and firefighter agencies, county supervisors, and Cal Trans officials got together yesterday morning at the Santa Barbara CHP headquarters to warn everybody to drive safely this holiday season. As a reminder to be safe, a car involved in a DUI accident was parked in front of officials as CHP Capt. Jeff Sgobba speaks during the press conference. Photo by Victor Maccharoli.

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Authorities stress safety on local roadways

By ERIC LINDBERG — Dec. 16, 2009

It’s a holiday tradition that local authorities one day hope they won’t have to observe.

Standing near a crushed sedan yesterday, officials from a variety of law enforcement agencies in Santa Barbara County made their annual impassioned plea to residents to stay safe on local roadways this holiday season.

“We sincerely hope the next time you see us all standing around a crashed car is at next year’s holiday safety press conference,” said Capt. Jeff Sgobba, commander of the local California Highway Patrol squad.

Gesturing to the varied uniformed officials standing behind him, Sgobba said they represent the positive things done every day to keep the community safe — from clearing brush and promoting defensible space to repairing the roadway and responding to emergencies.

But he then turned to the wreckage nearby and described the difficult task that first responders face following a traffic collision, from cutting a victim from a heavily damaged vehicle to notifying families that a loved one won’t be coming home.

In the CHP’s local jurisdiction this year, emergency crews have handled 30 fatal crashes — a 10 percent increase over last year, Sgobba said.

“These are not just statistics, but names of local people,” he said, invoking the memories of 49-year-old Jose Raul Reyes Vega, who was killed by a wrong-way driver; of 18-year-old Marcos Arredondo, who was also killed by a wrong-way driver suspected of DUI; and of 30-year-old Jarrod Martinez, a CHP rookie on the local squad who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Los Olivos.

Authorities said they are planning to do their part to ensure roadways are safe this holiday season with a blitz of 56 enforcement efforts beyond standard patrols. Ranging from sobriety checkpoints to saturation patrols, the holiday crackdown spans 18 days and begins this week.

But local leaders also stressed that residents have a major role to play in traffic safety.

“What it really comes down to is personal responsibility,” County Supervisor Janet Wolf said.

Those old enough to drive should consider it a privilege and practice good judgment while behind the wheel, she said.

Sgt. Kevin Huddle, who heads the traffic enforcement unit of the Goleta Police Department, said residents should contact authorities if they spot a driver exhibiting signs of intoxication.

Those warning signs include wrong-way driving, weaving, tailgating, driving without headlights at night and driving with a turn signal on.

“If you see those on the roadway, call 911 on your cell phone,” Huddle said. “This is one exception to the cell phone law.”

CHP officials also released a series of traffic safety tips, topped by a simple request: Don’t drink and drive.

“This is the result of someone who was under the influence,” County Supervisor Salud Carbajal said, pointing to the crushed vehicle. “The officer told me the driver probably didn’t make it.”

Those that choose to drink should designate a driver or otherwise arrange for a ride home. Party hosts should designate someone to serve and regulate alcohol rather than having an open bar, and also serve plenty of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as food and coffee.

While traveling during the holiday season, motorists should avoid speeding, following other vehicles too closely or changing lanes unsafely. All passengers and the driver should wear a seatbelt at all times, and children younger than 6 should be secured in an approved car seat in the rear of the vehicle.

Using a cell phone while driving remains illegal in all non-emergency situations, and authorities reminded local residents that texting while driving is also against the law.

Finally, law enforcement officials urged motorists to avoid driving while tired, as fatigue can affect driving as much as alcohol.

“We want everyone to have a safe, happy and wonderful holiday,” Carbajal said.

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CHP cannot transform dangerous system into safe system : 12/16/2009

Our current highway transportation system is very dangerous. It is unacceptably dangerous. It exposes a great insincerity in Californians that express love for family and friends while sending them into the killing zones of traffic after rejecting or ignoring the only engineering proposal politically presented that would have replaced the current system with an electric one designed for high-speed and zero-collision tolerance. (My 2003 Recall Election engineering proposal is still available for adoption by any political candidate seeking substance over style.) About 4000 Californians die in traffic each year, about 11 per day. About 40,000 Americans die in traffic each year, 110 per day. About 1.2 million humans die in traffic each year, about 3300 per day. Incredibly and almost unbelievably, about 267,000 Californians are injured in traffic each year, about 730 per day. Worldwide, 3300 traffic deaths per day is the near equivalent of 6.6 fully loaded 500-passenger jumbo jets crashing every day, 46 per week, 2400 per year. CHP can only respond and accumulate statistics.

Neil Baker

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To Neil : 12/21/2009

Collisions are extremely rare considering the amount of vehicle trips and traffic volume. The current system is not that dangerous. Put your statistic in perspective. Plus bad analogy, planes are usually flown by highly trained and experienced pilots, whereas cars are driven by any wahoo you gets a license, and many more who have no license or shouldn't have one. Neil for someone who tries to come off as so smart, is quite clueless sometimes. Stick to ranting about the zionists at UCSB, and stop commenting on crap you know nothing about. CHP is a great media gateway to exposing all the idiots mishaps, so that other idiots can learn. They are doing the best they can. Please post a link to this so called utopian engineering system you always elude to. I would probably agree that it is superior, but so are systems of free loving sustainable communes designed around a resource-based economy proposed by the zeitgeist movement...but I am a realist.. that crap are visions of utopia; great to dream about, but will never ever ever happen.

Traffic Engineer from Santa Ynez

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