HARTFORD–Staying within the speed limit can save your life.
Recently, the six New England states joined up for the “New England Drive to Save Lives” campaign started its pilot program as part of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration region-wide effort to reduce speeding.
The state police in each state enforced the campaign, and it had some impressive results: compared to the same time period and locations over the past three years, the region had nearly 25 percent fewer crashes, and 30 percent fewer crashes that resulted in an injury.
The coalition says that speed is a major factor in 30 percent of all fatal highway crashes nationwide.
In all, 11,500 traffic stops were made on interstate during the campaign, which lasted from May 4 to May 8. Of those stops, 3,876 speeding tickets were issued, 2,371 speeding warnings, 637 seat belt tickets, 254 seat belt warnings and seven tickets for not having a child in a proper car seat. Also, 51 impaired drivers were arrested, and 143 other arrests were made for things like outstanding warrants and driving without a license.
State police from each of the New England states, collectively made a total of more than 11,500 traffic stops during the campaign, conducted on interstate roadways between May 4-8th which resulted in 3,876 speeding tickets, 2,371 speed warnings, 637 seat belt tickets, 254 seat belt warnings and 7 tickets for not having a child properly restrained. Although the focus was speeding, the enforcement campaign also produced 51 impaired driving arrests and 143 arrests for other issues such as outstanding warrants and driving with a suspended license.
“Educating the public about the dangers of speeding and the severity of speeding-related crashes and injuries was our goal. The importance of being properly restrained while riding in a motor vehicle as a lifesaving habit was also a fundamental part of our efforts,” said Michael Geraci, regional administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The campaign was a huge success, and every state contributed to it. We had contact with thousands of motorists who were exceeding the speed limit and reached countless others who saw our presence on the roadways, on message boards and other signage, and in the media.”
