CALIFORNIA - Speeding is a bigger problem than ever in California, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The Office of Traffic Safety is saying speeding is an "emerging" traffic issue, as they cited a huge increase in California Highway Patrol (CHP) citations between March 19 and April 30 of 2020. They issued more than 400 citations during this time period.

That is more than double (113%) of the number of citations from the same time last year for drivers who were traveling more than 100 mph, despite a steep decline in traffic volume during the same time period to due the pandemic.

Speeding remains one of the main causes of crashes. Authorities said in the federal fiscal year 2017-18, speed was a factor in approximately 31% of all fatal and injury crashes in California.

Some North State police departments will extra staffing during the holidays to enforce speed laws and catch drivers in other moving violations. The Redding Police Department is one of the participating law enforcement agencies.

Funding for the program has been provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.