The California Highway Patrol will conduct a 24-hour Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) focused on speeding to help reduce serious and fatal crashes across California. The MEP begins at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28 and ends at 5:59 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29. The enforcement effort will take place throughout the day and night, emphasizing that there is no safe time or place to drive at unsafe speeds.

During the operation, officers will monitor roadways and take enforcement action against drivers who exceed posted speed limits or travel at unsafe speeds for the conditions. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to changing traffic conditions and greatly increases the severity of crashes. Even a slight increase in speed can significantly affect the outcome of a crash.

“Speeding continues to be one of the leading causes of serious and fatal crashes on California’s roadways. When drivers choose to exceed safe speeds, they reduce their ability to react and increase the risk for everyone on the road. Slowing down is one of the simplest steps that drivers can take to protect themselves and others,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.

The CHP is committed to slowing drivers down before a dangerous situation becomes tragic. In 2025, CHP officers issued over 491,000 citations for speed-related violations. Last year, based on preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, over 110,000 crashes resulted from unsafe speeds. These crashes led to more than 400 deaths and injured over 68,000 people.

In December, the CHP and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) launched Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST), a pilot program that accelerates the removal of drivers who exceed 100 mph from the roads. FAST automatically sends these citations to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch, which has the authority to suspend or revoke a license.

Speeding often saves only seconds, but the consequences of a crash can last a lifetime. The CHP encourages drivers to slow down, stay focused and do their part to keep California’s roadways safe. Choosing to drive at a safe speed not only protects the driver but also passengers, pedestrians and others sharing the road.