CHP’s 78-hour plan that could ruin your Fourth of July

CHP is set to begin a holiday enforcement period focused on highway speeding from Thursday night at 6 p.m. to Sunday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m.

Last year’s enforcement period saw officers respond to more than 850 speed-related crashes, police said. Cops also arrested more than 1,300 people in that time for driving under the influence.

CHP is set to begin a holiday enforcement period focused on highway speeding from Thursday night at 6 p.m. to Sunday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m. Getty Images

The Fourth of July travel season is expected to be in full swing soon and will break records. Jill Clardy – stock.adobe.com

At least seven of the collisions were deadly, and nearly 400 resulted in injuries.

“Speeding is dangerous – it slows reaction time, increases stopping distance and crash severity, and can lead to serious, even fatal, consequences,” CHP said.

CHP said there are more than 115,000 collisions in California due to speed each year on average. Data also shows about 600 traffic-related deaths each year, police said.

“Reckless driving and speeding continue to endanger lives on California’s roadways,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement.

“As families and friends travel this holiday weekend, we urge everyone to slow down, be considerate of others and make responsible choices behind the wheel. Getting there safely is what matters most,” he added.

CHP officers will be out in specially-marked low-profile vehicles that “blend into traffic, allowing officers to identify reckless drivers before taking enforcement action.” The vehicles have been a part of more than 59,000 citations statewide.

The Fourth of July travel season is expected to be in full swing soon and will break records. 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5, according to AAA.

To practice safe driving and save lives this Fourth of July, CHP advises:

• Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
• Use a rideshare service, taxi or public transportation if you have been drinking.
• Host responsibly and ensure guests have a safe way home.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or other impairing substances.
• Always wear your seat belt; it remains one of the most effective ways to reduce injuries and save lives in a crash.
• If someone is about to drive impaired, speak up, take the keys, and help them get home safely.
• Help remove a dangerous driver from the road by dialing 9-1-1.

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