Police in 11 States Stepped Up Speeding Enforcement on I-80

State police from 11 states worked hand-in-hand to step up speeding enforcement along Interstate 80. The Iowa Department of Public Safety spearheaded the “I-80 Challenge” that goes with the slogan “More Cops, More Stops,” after analyzing crash data and finding out that summer was the deadliest time for crashes along the interstate. The campaign’s aim was to have no fatalities the entire month of August. Another good thing about the project is that it did not require additional funds for implementation. It was all done by officers who volunteered to participate in the challenge.

What states were involved in this campaign?
According to organizers, state police in California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency that regulates trucking safety, took part in the effort that focused on speeding, impaired driving and seat belt use. Chief of the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau Patrick Hoye said that there were 350 fatalities on all of I-80 from 2009-2011. I-80 is the USA’s second longest interstate, next to Interstate 90, which stretches 3,021 miles from Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Will we see the same effort implemented on I-65 which also has its share of road accidents and fatalities due to speeding?

Kentucky accident due to speeding
On May 22, 2010, 22-year-old Sarah Bearden died after a collision. The off-duty police officer who collided with the young woman’s vehicle was running at more than 80 miles per hour. That was nearly twice the posted speed limit on the road! The driver claimed he was trying to swerve around Bearden’s vehicle so he sped up. However, instead he crashed into the vehicle.

As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I support programs like this that aim to oversee traffic conditions for the safety of motorists as well as pedestrians. Speeding is something that is very common. Many people are in a hurry to get to their destination. My concern is the aftermath. When you increase your speed, you’re decreasing your reaction time and increasing your chances of the accident being fatal. Please pay attention to the speed limits on roads and highways.