Fatal accidents in Pico Rivera Involving Drunk Drivers



The City of Pico Rivera has experienced three pedestrian fatalities, two of which are believed to involve drivers under the influence of alcohol, within a one month period. The Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station wants to remind the public not to drink and drive. If the public encounters a drunk driver on the road, they are encouraged to call the Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station at (562) 949-2421, or call 911, to report the incident. Always remember, "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk."



Drinking and driving is a dangerous, costly problem in the Unites States. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 10,839 people will die in drunk driving crashes this year one every 50 minutes. In addition, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash every minute.



Speaking of intoxication, sleepiness combined with drunkenness is a particularly deadly combination. Numerous studies have shown that sleepiness can impair driving skills as much as being drunk. In fact, being awake for 20 hours straight makes the average driver perform as poorly as someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%, now the legal limit in all states.



Research has shown that there is a variety of behaviors that contribute to car accidents, such as inexperience, speeding, drinking and driving and distracted driving. Distracted driving is any activity that can take a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. Distractions include texting, talking on a cell phone, using smartphone applications, eating and drinking, talking with passengers, grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, watching a video and adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player. All distractions can endanger driver, passenger and pedestrian safety.



We would also like to remind pedestrians to be vigilant of hazards when they are near the roadway. Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks, obey signals, wear bright colors during hours of darkness and visibly clear their walking path prior to crossing the street.



The Pico Rivera Sheriff's Station is committed to the safety of our community. Our deputies are actively involved in the education, enforcement and prevention of traffic accidents. Our deputies are aggressively searching for drunk or distracted drivers in an effort to make the City of Pico Rivera a safer place to live, work and play.