More Cops, More Stops Campaign takes place this week - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is teaming up with other law enforcement officials from California to New Jersey for a special More Cops, More Stops "I-80 Cross-Country Crackdown" to ramp up enforcement of life-saving traffic safety laws during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

From July 24 to July 31, the OSHP and other law enforcement officials serving the I-80 corridor will be cracking down on crash-causing violations, such as speeding, impaired or aggressive driving, with a goal of achieving a zero fatality rate for the eight-day period.

Officials say too many lives are being lost on I-80 from those who violate the most basic traffic safety laws. 

"It's sad to see a summer vacation end in tragedy because someone chose to violate or ignore traffic laws that prevent crashes and save lives," said Col. John Born, OSHP superintendent. "We want zero fatalities."

Nationally, in 2011, more than 21,000 passenger vehicle occupants across the nation were killed in traffic crashes. Of those fatalities, 52 percent were not wearing seatbelts at the time of their fatal crashes. Approximately 9,900 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes, with more than 3,330 killed in fatal crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly 10,000 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration partners with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to implement combined highway safety law enforcement campaigns, like More Cops, More Stops, which focuses enforcement on multiple traffic safety laws at one time.

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