CHP STEPS UP HOLIDAY ROAD PATROLS JUMP IN FATALITIES TRIGGERS INCREASED DRIVER SCRUTINY.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - California Highway Patrol Capt. Doug Rich is no stranger to the dangerous driving of motorists in the Antelope Valley.

While off-duty and traveling along Highway 138 one evening, he watched five separate motorists pass him over double yellow lines. One passed on the shoulder.

Another time, again while off-duty, Rich was driving out of a shopping center parking lot as the traffic signal turned green. Just as he began pulling out, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye and stopped. An older model Cadillac blew through the red light at 40 mph.

``He would have hit me square in the driver's side door if I hadn't stopped,'' Rich said. ``That's the kind of thing we're up against.''

Last year's 54 traffic fatalities, which made 2003 the deadliest year in Antelope Valley history for motorists, may be surpassed this year, Rich fears.

``This year is shaping up to be worse than last year,'' Rich said. ``We're seeing an increase in drinking and driving and also aggressive driving, like speeding and unsafe lane changes. Those things can turn into road rage incidents very quickly.''

So far this year, 33 people have been killed in 29 crashes on highways and rural roads, while by this time last year the number was 36 fatalities in 28 crashes. That's an eight percent increase in the number of fatal crashes, Rich said.

``Those numbers are just unacceptable,'' Rich said.

Palmdale streets have seen seven fatalities in seven crashes so far this year - the latest Friday, when a car rear-ended a delivery truck - while last year they recorded 19 people dead in 14 crashes for the entire year.

Lancaster has seen nine people killed so far this year - the latest on Saturday, when a big rig ran a red light and hit a car - while 11 people were killed in crashes total last year.

Rich said CHP officers are stepping up patrols through midnight on Monday in an effort to combat a 37 percent rise in DUI-related crashes this year and an increase in aggressive driving, mostly by teens ages 16 to 18.

The stepped-up patrols, which will include additional units on overtime and officers specifically looking for motorists driving in an unsafe manner, will also be focusing on seat-belt violators.

``There are a couple of common denominators here: the continued lack of seat belt use, alcohol and aggressive driving on the part of our younger drivers,'' Rich said.

Two of the fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurred Aug. 18. At 2:30 a.m., an unlicensed 16-year-old girl drove through a stop sign for Avenue G at Sierra Highway and was broad-sided, killing the other driver instantly.

Six hours later, an 18-year-old driver attempted to pass a school bus making a left turn. The car slammed into the rear of the school bus. The children on board the bus were uninjured, but the teen died days later at a hospital.

Other enforcement efforts include a weeklong operation targeting seat- belt violators that began Thursday, a joint operation with sheriff's deputies.

CHP units will also be watching for violators around county-area schools that open next week.

``The message is simple,'' Rich said. ``Citizens of Antelope Valley, it's time to wake up and start paying attention to your driving. We will get you if you're an aggressive or drunk driver. The goal is that we don't want any more deaths.''

Greg Botonis, [phone]

gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com