Nine people lost their lives in traffic accidents in East Ventura County last year, compared to 11 in 2008, 12 in 2007 and 15 in 2006.

According to the California Highway Patrol, local traffic fatalities dropped to a record low in 2009 because officers are cracking down on speeders and drunk drivers.

“This year, for the first time in our history, DUI and speeding were not the top causes for fatal accidents,” CHP Capt. Cliff Williams said during a ceremony Monday in Moorpark to recognize the achievement.

New and ongoing outreach programs, aimed especially at young drivers, also contributed to the decrease in accidents, Williams said.

The Moorpark station opened in 2005. Forty officers cover the 101 Freeway from the county line to Camarillo Springs, Highway 23 from Fillmore to Thousand Oaks, Highway 126 near Fillmore and the 118 Freeway from the county line to Somis.

“I know I have the best graveyard shift in the state because (my officers) work hard and seldom take breaks. They’re constantly out there attempting to take the most dangerous drivers off our roadways,” Williams said.

Overall, the Moorpark CHP office had fewer traffic collisions, fatalities and injuries than state averages.

In ’09, fatalities in East Ventura County dropped by 18 percent, compared to 14 percent statewide. Traffic injuries were down by 10.4 percent, compared to 4 percent in the state, and accidents declined by 10 percent, whereas the state average was 3 percent.

“These numbers are very important because they translated into lives saved,” Williams said.

Last year, local officers handed out 16,330 speeding citations and arrested 923 impaired drivers, the captain said.

Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin, who attended the recent recognition event at the Moorpark Police Station, thanked CHP officers for their hard work.

“You never know who you saved. You could have saved that bride who walked down the aisle or a father who is taking the time to help his child with homework,” she said.

Parvin’s husband, Dale, is a former police officer. Her father and grandfather were also in law enforcement.

According to Williams, the CHP will continue to make catching intoxicated drivers and speeders a priority in 2010.

It will also continue to offer outreach programs to educate drivers.

“Public education has been a priority for the California Highway Patrol. With ever-changing, tougher DUI laws, the CHP has strived to make the public aware of the ramifications of being arrested for DUI,” Williams said.

The local CHP office offers programs such as “Smart Start” and “Every 15 Minutes” to prevent underage drinking and promote good driving habits among young people between the ages of 15 and 20.

The Smart Start program takes place at the Moorpark Police Station once a month. “Every 15 Minutes” is offered in alternate years on high school campuses throughout the area.

The CHP and Ventura County Behavioral Health Department are also working together to develop programs that encourage bars, clubs and restaurants to provide incentives for designated drivers and keep impaired drivers off the road.

For more information about CHP public outreach programs, call (805) 553-0800.