File photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
Police across the state on Monday began a week-long speed enforcement campaign called “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”
As part of the effort, state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local police have committed to confront drivers who violate the posted speed limit on Arkansas highways and local streets.
The initiative lasts through Sunday, July 18.
Arkansas State Police Director Col. Bill Bryant said speeding violations across Arkansas have been trending upward over the past 18 months, correlating with an increase in total fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.
“When a driver increases the speed of a vehicle, it reduces the reaction time the driver has to safely react to unexpected hazards and too often the end result is serious injury or death to drivers and passengers,” said Bryant.
State officials said during the calendar year 2019 the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 26% of all traffic fatalities were caused by speeding related crashes.
Locally, the Fayetteville Police Department announced its participation in the effort. In a Facebook post on Monday, the department said drivers in Fayetteville can expect to see more traffic stops in town and urged people to slow down to stay safe.
