The Iowa State Patrol is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Region 7 states, including Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska for the Slow Down Move Over enforcement campaign to remind drivers to obey the speed limits and to move over for emergency vehicles this Mother’s Day weekend. Mother’s Day is May 8 and law enforcement agencies from the region will be out trying to prevent crashes, save lives and raise awareness about the dangers of speeding all weekend, from May 6 – 8.
Nationally in 2020, 30 percent of all crash fatalities were related to speeding. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to be fatal than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below.
“Our region loses too many lives each year in speeding-related crashes, and we are determined to change that,” said Colonel Nathan Fulk. “In 2020 alone, 787 lives in our region were lost due to speeding. That’s why we’re reminding drivers to stay alert, to watch for and obey all posted speed limits. We want to make sure everyone can celebrate together for Mother’s Day,” Fulk added.
In 2020, more than 11,200 lives were lost across the United States in speeding-related traffic crashes – a 17 percent increase from 2019. Any time drivers speed, they put themselves, their passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
