The Benton Police Department is launching a tough new speed enforcement blitz under the tagline: “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”   This campaign will run from July 10th through the 16th and it will be an intensified enforcement effort against speeding drivers.  This program will focus on the severity of the problem both locally and across the nation.

“Speeding translates to death on our roadways. It greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Speeding drivers put themselves, their passengers and other drivers at tremendous risk, said Lt. Kevin Russell. 

In 2005, speeding was a contributing factor in more than a third of all fatal crashes in the U.S. and more than 13,000 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“During the “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” blitz, officers will intensify enforcement of posted speed limits in Benton.  We’ll stop and ticket anyone caught speeding—especially on residential streets in neighborhoods and business areas, where most of our speed-related crashes occur,” said Lt. Kevin Russell

Fully 86 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occur on local roads -- where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. About 14 percent of the country’s speeding-related fatalities occur on interstate highways each year.

 A NHTSA research report, “Analysis of Speeding-Related Fatal Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes,” shows that a major proportion of fatal, speeding-related single-vehicle crashes occur on rural roadways.  Across America in 2005, speeding was a factor in 28 percent of all fatal crashes on dry roads, and in 33 percent of those occurring on wet roads. “Driving above the posted speed limit or speeding in bad weather conditions dramatically increases the probability that a motorist will be involved in a crash,” said Lt. Kevin Russell

“During this enforcement blitz, officers will be out targeting and ticketing speeding drivers,” said Lt. Kevin Russell. “Our goal is to save lives and we’re putting all drivers on alert - the posted speed limit IS THE LAW. No more warnings and no more excuses. When it comes to speeding: Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”

NHTSA considers a crash speeding-related if the driver was charged with exceeding the posted speed limit or if the driver was driving too fast for conditions at the time.

Officers are working this initiative as part of a STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) grant the Benton Police Department has through the AR State Highway Office. 

For more information please visit www.nhtsa.gov