CHP premieres new low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles
Aggressive lane weaving, triple-digit speeds and road rage might be part of a high-score strategy in video games, but in the real world such maneuvers are deadly.
In an effort to crack down on what can only be described as 'video game-styled' driving on the state's highways, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is deploying a new generation of low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles (SMPV) – and one such vehicle is coming to the California Highway Patrol Office in Red Bluff.
'The new vehicles give our officers an important advantage,' said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. 'They will allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at risk, while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed.'
The 100 new Dodge Durangos—paired with the CHP's existing high-performance fleet, which includes Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers—blend into traffic just enough to observe the most reckless and dangerous behaviors without immediate detection, Duryee said.
'Once enforcement begins, their markings serve as a clear reminder that safety is the CHP's top priority,' he added.
With over 390,000 crashes annually in California and nearly 1,000 daily reports of reckless driving, the new vehicle-tools will help CHP officers hold the most egregious violators accountable, according to the CHP.
Last year, CHP officers issued almost 18,000 citations to drivers speeding over 100 miles per hour.
Speed is a factor in approximately 30 percent of all crashes and a major contributor to traffic fatalities and injuries, Duryee said. It is particularly dangerous because it decreases reaction time, extends stopping distance, and intensifies the severity of crashes.
'Our goal remains the same, to reduce injuries, prevent fatalities, and restore a sense of safety on California's roadways. We urge all drivers to obey speed limits, avoid aggressive behavior, and share the road responsibly,' he added.
The CHP positioned the first 25 SMPVs in various regions across California last week. All 100 high-performance patrol units will be strategically placed along California's busiest, high-risk roadways by June.
Speed isn't a thrill—it's a threat, and the CHP is responding, Duryee said.
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