Long Beach to educate motorists about dangers of driving while impaired

Long Beach, California – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services will use the awarded grant of $215,000 to educate motorists about the dangers of driving while drunk or under the influence of marijuana.

While the COVID-19 pandemic caused Americans to drive fewer miles in 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that active THC, the psychoactive element in cannabis, was more common among drivers than alcohol throughout the pandemic.

“The safety of our community is our top priority in Long Beach. As we continue to improve the City’s transportation infrastructure, this grant will enable us to expand existing safety education campaigns and encourage safe interactions among road users to reduce traffic related injuries,” Mayor Robert Garcia said.

The California Office of Traffic Safety received the grant, which distributes federal funds to local and state governments for the implementation of traffic safety programs.

The money will be used by the city’s Greenlight LB Program to educate residents about the risks of driving while impaired by drugs and to support better choices. This is the seventh year that the Health Department has received a grant to continue its efforts to prevent impaired driving.