The Fontana Police Department was awarded a $365,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund a program that utilizes education and enforcement initiatives to reduce the number of life-threatening injuries and deaths on Fontana roadways. The grant program will run until September 2025.
“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” said Fontana Police Department Chief Michael Dorsey. “By increasing enforcement of traffic laws and focusing on high-risk areas, we aim to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes and make our roads safer for everyone.”
Grant funding will specifically cover facets like DUI checkpoints and patrols, distracted driver enforcement operations, warrant service operations that target DUI offenders who do not make a court appearance, pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle safety operations, watching out for dangerous driving maneuvers like red light running and officer training that covers standard field sobriety and advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement.
Standard field sobriety is comprised of three drunken driver tests that cover horizontal gaze nystagmus (erratic horizontal eye movements that often result from being under the influence), performing a walk-and-turn and standing on one leg.
Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement trains officers to look out for other signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol or a combination of the two.
The grant funding arrives alongside the Fontana Police Department’s acknowledgment of October as National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the week of Oct. 20 to Oct. 26 as National Teen Driver Safety Week.
Research suggests that car crash incidents are a significant cause of death among teens aged 15 to 18 years. According to a 2022 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 2,514 people died in vehicle collisions, which involved a teenage driver. In California alone, young drivers accounted for almost 12% of all fatal vehicle crashes in 2022 despite that demographic only accounting for 5% of all licensed drivers in the United States.
“Parents and caregivers play a huge part in keeping teens safe on the road,” said Fontana Police Department Sgt. Kurt Schlotterbeck. “Having these meaningful conversations, setting rules and being a role model for safe driving can help teens make better choices when they’re driving.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also found that in 2022, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States. According to reports, 1,158 California pedestrians were struck and killed on roadways, making up 26% of traffic-related fatalities in the state. Fontana Police Department officials highlight these statistics as an “urgent need for increased awareness and safety measures for people walking.”
“Every step we take towards greater pedestrian safety is a step towards saving lives,” Schlotterbeck said. “We want to remind everyone that safety begins with you, whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot. Small actions, like slowing down, putting away distractions and yielding at crosswalks, can make a life-saving difference.”
