SUBJECT
Title
ENHANCED TRAFFIC SAFETY IN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES THROUGH INCREASED CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL COORDINATION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors continue to be a serious issue for many of the unincorporated communities in the County of San Diego (County), leading to injuries and fatalities on County-maintained roadways. Other impacts are reported as well, including road closures and damage to critical infrastructure, for example traffic signals. Specifically, complaints of unsafe driving continue to be brought up by communities in District 5, particularly from those living in the Valley Center and Bonsall community plan areas. Residents and other groups are expressing a growing concern about excessive speeds, limited law enforcement presence, and other road conditions that elevate traffic safety risks in their neighborhoods.
In response to these concerns, today’s item seeks to coordinate a traffic and road safety strategy to reduce the amount of speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors on County-maintained roads. The actions presented today include a renewed focus on our engagement with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to advocate for increased patrol coverage, targeted enforcement aligning with traffic collision data-sharing with the Department of Public Works (DPW), and advocacy for legislation to increase the number of CHP patrol officers made available to the unincorporated areas of the County. Together, these efforts are aimed at increasing law enforcement presence to help deter unsafe driving, leading to improved road safety conditions in communities experiencing elevated traffic risks.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to coordinate, on a frequent and on-going basis, with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to request additional patrol presence, targeted speed enforcement operations, and collaborative data sharing with the Department of Public Works (DPW) related to high-risk segments in unincorporated areas as needed, with an initial focus on the communities of Valley Center and Bonsall.
2. Direct the CAO to include in the Board’s Legislative Program support for legislation to increase the number of CHP patrol officers made available for the unincorporated areas of the County of San Diego.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Unincorporated communities often rely on a limited network of rural road corridors where speeding and collisions have a disproportionate impact on residents, commuters and tribal communities with fewer available alternative routes. Enhancing traffic safety through strengthening our coordination with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will promote greater access to safer roads for populations that historically have fewer traffic calming tools and limited law enforcement presence due to geographic distance from population centers.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Reducing speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors will decrease traffic interruptions caused by collisions and could support fuel efficiency by encouraging steadier driving speeds. Today’s item will enhance the resilience and overall operation of rural road networks, where a road closure can significantly and disproportionately delay area residents, first responders, and other users of the road.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
Unincorporated communities, particularly Valley Center and Bonsall, regularly experience speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors along County-maintained roads. Unfortunately, this leads to fatal collisions and other localized impacts, such as lengthy road closures with few alternative routes available and damage to critical infrastructure. Contributing factors typically include long and/or winding road segments with limited traffic calming and inconsistent law enforcement presence. Unfortunately, these conditions encourage some users of the road to drive in an especially unsafe manner, usually involving high speeds or driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. To address this serious issue, today’s item seeks to coordinate a traffic and road safety strategy that includes a renewed focus on our engagement with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and advocacy for legislation that would increase the number of CHP patrol officers on unincorporated roads in the County of San Diego (County). -
As a local government, the County does not conduct traffic enforcement in the unincorporated areas; we depend on the State of California through CHP for these services. However, current staffing levels have limited CHP’s ability to routinely cover certain areas in the unincorporated County, particularly in the communities of Valley Center and Bonsall. Through more frequent engagement with CHP while advocating for more patrol officers through legislation, the County can strengthen its approach to increase road safety conditions along County-maintained roads in the unincorporated areas. Increasing patrol presence and law enforcement visibility to users of the road - alongside strategic, targeted enforcement operations - can significantly reduce dangerous driving behaviors.
Together, the actions in today’s item form a coordinated approach between the County and CHP to reduce traffic safety risks, helping to achieve a long-lasting strategy that ensures our roads are safe for communities throughout the unincorporated County.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Equity: Health; and Community: Engagement, Safety, and Quality of Life Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan.
Respectfully submitted,
JIM DESMOND
Supervisor, Fifth District
ATTACHMENT(S)
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