INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute recently shared the results of the enhanced enforcement effort that took place during the holidays to reduce crashes and traffic fatalities. The Safe Family Travel campaign ran from Thanksgiving to New Years and brought about increased high-visibility patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the state.
In total, police officers conducted 582 overtime patrols and worked an extra 2,441 hours. Preliminary reports indicate that officers made 7,283 traffic stops, which resulted in 3,277 citations, 3,709 warnings and 297 arrests. Of those, 79 were for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Nearly one-third (2,197) of the citations and warnings issued during the campaign were for excessive speeds.
Although the enhanced enforcement campaign is over, officers are always on the lookout for reckless driving. To stay safe, state and local officials encourage motorists to: never drive impaired, always wear a seat belt, follow posted speed limits, watch for pedestrians and avoid distractions behind the wheel.
Before consuming alcohol, plan a sober ride home, such as a designated driver or using a ride service or public transportation. Motorists are encouraged to call 911 if they encounter an impaired or unsafe driver on the road.