The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) released a report Friday indicating a recent speed enforcement effort was successful in discouraging high risk driving. From July 21 to July 23, officers from 33 different city, county and state law enforcement agencies conducted the high visibility campaign. As a result of their efforts, 1,408 speeding citations were issued and 50 impaired drivers were removed from the roads. Col. Jeff Ritzman, of the Iowa State Patrol, says, “This was an effort to deter aggressive driving, including excessive speed. Large scale mobilizations such as this one have had a positive impact on reducing speed and encouraging safe driving.” The strong presence of law enforcement was intended to reduce crashes and make Iowa’s roadways safer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 9,536 people were killed in related in speed-related crashed in 2015. That number represents more than one-fourth of the 35,000 people killed in all traffic deaths that year. The DPS plans to continue these enforcement efforts to reduce traffic fatalities.
