State Police campaign against speeding, distracted driving
The Indiana State Police Department has relaunched its annual traffic safety campaign looking for people who are speeding or driving while distracted.
According to a press release from the department, distracted driving and speeding caused more than 17,000 crashes across the state in 2024. Those crashes resulted in 230 deaths.
During the ISP campaign, which will run April 5-19, motorists will likely see an increase in roving and high-visibility patrols. The campaign is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via grants doled out by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
'Distracted driving isn't just risky, it's deadly,' James Bryan, ICJI's Traffic Safety Director, wrote in the press release sent to the Pharos-Tribune. 'Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call, or notification is worth the cost of a crash.'
In 2020, the press release pointed out, Indiana passed a law prohibiting motorists from holding or using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet while driving. Violating the law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500 and results in points being added to the motmotorist's driver's license.
In 2024, law enforcement agencies issued 7,684 hands-free citations and 11,203 warnings.
'We all share the road, and all Hoosiers share the responsibility to drive safely,' Douglas Huntsinger, ICJI's Executive Director, wrote in the press release. 'Slowing down is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others.'
Sgt. Steven Glass, a public information officer for the ISP, seemed to agree with that sentiment.
ISP troopers 0003
Trooper Steven Glass
'Speed limits exist for a reason, and so does Indiana's hands-free law,' Glass wrote in the press release. 'Our priority is keeping our community safe, and we will be enforcing the law to ensure that happens.'
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