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California Highway Patrol Sees Dramatic Decrease in DUI Arrests

COVID-19 Pandemic Results in Significant Decline in Traffic and DUIs

According to CBS 13, the Coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns have had some positive results on California’s highways. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reporting a dramatic decrease in the number of traffic accidents and arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI).

Arrests and crashes started to fall in March after Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling for Californians to stay-at-home except for essential business. The order also shuttered many bars and restaurants. Since the order, the CHP has seen a 75 percent decrease in the number of traffic crashes from March 19 through April 30 as compared with the same period one year ago. The CHP has also seen a drastic decline in the number of auto-related injuries and deaths, seeing an 88 percent and 62 percent decrease respectively.

Arrests for drunk driving has been declining as well. According to CBS 13 reporting “The number of DUI arrests during March and April fell by nearly 42% from 7,224 in 2019 to 4,223 this year.”

One area that CHP is seeing a rise is in the number of drivers speeding at rates of 100 miles per hour or above. This trend is likely due to fewer people being on the road. Empty roads encourage risky driving. The CHP saw a 46 percent increase in the number of citations written for these drivers.

The decline in drunk driving arrests and overall traffic crashes has resulted in savings for California. As indicated in the reporting, a UC Davis traffic study showed that these reductions save millions of dollars each day.

Read the full CBS 13 article: CHP Traffic Data Shows Crashes Are Down 75%, DUI Arrests Down 42% Since March.