Officers On the Lookout for Speeding and Distracted Driving

To help save lives, DCTSP is participating in a traffic safety campaign from April 5 through April 19.

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(Dearborn, Co.) - Officers with Dearborn County Traffic Partnership are on high alert as they participate in an annual traffic safety campaign looking for people speeding or driving while distracted. Distracted driving and speeding caused over 17,000 thousand crashes across Indiana in 2024, resulting in 230 deaths.

To help save lives, DCTSP is participating in a traffic safety campaign from April 5 through April 19. During the campaign, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, motorists should expect to see an increase in roving and high-visibility patrols.

Distracted driving involves cellphone use or any activity that takes attention away from the task of driving. Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving.

In 2020, Indiana passed a law prohibiting holding or using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Since then, law enforcement agencies have worked to educate motorists, issuing 7,684 hands-free citations and 11,203 warnings in 2024 alone. Violating the law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500 and results in points being added to an individual’s driver’s license.

Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve. Speeding also increases the potential for loss of vehicle control, especially in inclement weather, and reduces the effectiveness of occupant protection equipment.