CHP targets ‘video game-styled’ driving with stealthy cruisers

SACRAMENTO In a bid to curb what it calls video game-styled driving the California Highway Patrol is rolling out a fleet of stealthy cruisers to help enforce the rules of the road Related Articles San Jose Man dies Sunday night in suspected DUI crash on Highway One dead in wrong-way crash on East Bay highway near Antioch Bridge Driver who ran into back of big rig in fatal I- wreck identified One dead in crash involving big rig on Interstate in East Bay Woman arrested for attempted murder after suspected road rage shooting on California freeway The Dodge Durangos with their ordinary paint schemes and windshield-mounted lights are designed to blend into traffic just enough to allow officers to observe reckless and dangerous driving without being detected right away according to the CHP The new vehicles give our officers an key advantage CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee mentioned in a report They will allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at exposure while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed Twenty-five of the low-profile specially marked patrol vehicles or SMPVs hit the highways last week according to the CHP which plans to boost that number to by June The cruisers will be positioned along the state s busiest high-risk roadways The CHP noted the state sees more than crashes annually and nearly reports of reckless driving daily Last year officers issued nearly citations to drivers speeding over mph Speed the CHP noted is a factor in of all crashes and a major contributor to fatalities and injuries Our goal remains the same reduce injuries prevent fatalities and restore a sense of safety on California s roadways the CHP commented in a news release We urge all drivers to obey speed limits avoid aggressive behavior and share the road responsibly