Law Enforcement Asks the Motoring Traffic to Drive Safely this Thanksgiving Holiday

Mahaska County Sheriff's Office

From Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office

Des Moines, IOWA — During last year’s Thanksgiving Holiday, eight people lost their lives on Iowa highways. Beginning November 21, 2011 and continuing through November 27, 2011, Iowa law enforcement will be conducting another enforcement project as part of the Special Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP). This enforcement event is part of a statewide project to help change driver behavior. A highly visible law enforcement presence on the roadways should encouraging motorists to obey all traffic laws, especially buckling up and slowing down.

Far too many citizens are killed needlessly everyday on Iowa roadways because they don’t obey traffic laws. During last year’s seven day Thanksgiving sTEP project, 13 lives were lost in traffic crashes. Fortunately, lifesaving measures are just a click away. Fifty percent of those killed in crashes as a result of being un-buckled, would be saved if only motorists would take three seconds to put on the safety belt.

Randy Hunefeld, sTEP Coordinator with the Department of Public Safety, continues to stress the importance of using safety belts, slowing down and obeying all traffic laws. Hunefeld admits the message is old and repetitive. But, he also insists the message is still relevant. As long as tragic, fatal crashes occur on our roadways, with 390 fatalities in 2010, the efforts of law enforcement and the staff at the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau will continue. Ask yourself: “How many lives were saved because law enforcement was present on our roadways?

During last year’s five sTEP periods, officers recorded 130,383 traffic violations over 43 days. Each enforcement period involved the efforts of 236 enforcement agencies and over 1,900 officers from cities, counties and the State. The next sTEP enforcement project will occur on March 15–18, 2012. For additional information, go to www.iowagtsb.org or