The Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Salem Police Department announced on April 6 that they will increase patrols to address distracted driving and speeding violations in Indiana. The effort is part of a collaboration with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) under the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP), which provides federal funding for local traffic safety enforcement.
This initiative aims to reduce traffic accidents caused by preventable behaviors such as using mobile devices while driving or exceeding speed limits. Officers will work overtime from April 4 through April 13 to identify and stop drivers who are either speeding or violating Indiana’s Hands-Free Law, which prohibits holding mobile devices while operating a vehicle.
“Distracted driving and speeding are preventable behaviors that put drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “This campaign is a reminder that these actions have real consequences, and law enforcement officers are actively working to keep Indiana’s roads safe.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 249 fatalities related to speeding in Indiana in 2023. Distracted driving was responsible for another 47 fatal incidents during that year. However, officials note that limitations in data collection mean the actual number of deadly crashes involving distracted drivers may be higher than reported.
Sheriff Brent Miller said, “Distracted driving and speeding remain major contributors to serious and deadly crashes. These actions are illegal and endanger everyone on the road. Officers will step up enforcement and ticket anyone caught violating these laws.”
The ICJI encourages motorists to avoid multitasking while driving, obey posted speed limits, allow extra travel time during busy periods, and maintain safe distances between vehicles.
CHIRP is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by ICJI. More information about traffic safety programs can be found at www.in.gov/cji.
