The Indiana State Police (ISP) announced the start of a high visibility driver enforcement effort that starts on Friday.
The enforcement effort is taking place from February 26 through March 21, 2021, throughout the state of Indiana.
Troopers say that they’ll be on the lookout for impaired or dangerous drivers and that there will be “zero tolerance for those driving aggressively, over the speed limit, or under the influence.”
The ISP overtime patrols are being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through an Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) grant.
“We’re seeing an uptick in dangerous driving during the pandemic, and it’s very concerning,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops this March to reverse that trend and encourage safe driving behavior. Preventing loss of life is our top priority.”
ISP pointed to NHTSA data that shows that while miles travelled dipped 14.5% in the first nine months of 2020 due to the pandemic, overall traffic fatalities increased by 4.6 percent nationwide.
ISP is recommending that drivers who want to avoid the potential for legal fees and criminal charges obey the posted speed limit, refrain from distracted driving, avoid tailgating or aggressive driving, wear seatbelts, and never drive while impaired.