Local law enforcement will increase patrols in the region starting next week as a part of a statewide traffic safety effort.
The enforcement period runs April fourth through April thirteenth. It is part of the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program, administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute using federal funding.
Officers will work overtime shifts during that time, focusing on speeding and violations of Indiana’s hands-free driving law.
That law, which took effect in 2020, prohibits drivers from holding a mobile device while operating a vehicle. Calls must be made using hands-free technology such as Bluetooth or a headset.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Indiana reported 249 speeding-related fatalities in 2023, along with 47 fatal crashes involving distracted driving.
Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, says distracted driving and speeding continue to pose risks on Indiana roadways.
Officers will issue citations to drivers who violate those laws during the enforcement period.
The Vincennes Police and Knox County Sheriff’s Departments are participating in the campaign along with agencies from surrounding counties in Indiana.
