Indiana launches enforcement campaign to target distracted driving INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana law enforcement agencies are launching a statewide enforcement campaign starting Saturday to target speeding and distracted driving. The project, dubbed the Safer Roads Campaign, will utilize o vertime patrols through April 13 to increase safety on roadways across the state. It comes as a partnership between the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Indiana State Police, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In a release shared Tuesday, the criminal justice institute says the campaign will target behaviors that are “avoidable.” “Distracted driving and speeding are preventable behaviors that put drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk,” Douglas Huntsinger, the director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, said. “This campaign is a reminder that these actions have real consequences and law enforcement officers are actively working to keep Indiana’s roads safe.” Citing 2023 data, the release reports 249 speeding-related fatalities that year. Distracted driving accounted for 47 fatal accidents, though the actual number of fatal crashes caused by distracted drivers may be higher than reported. During the campaign, officers will be on the lookout for specific behaviors from drivers, including speeding or violating Indiana’s Hands-Free Law. The law went into effect in 2020 and bans drivers from using mobile devices while driving, adding that calls can only be made using hands-free tech like Bluetooth, headsets, etc. ISP Superintendent Anthony Scott says the department will maintain its focus on increasing safety for all motorists. “Traffic safety is a core public safety priority,” Scott said. “We are committed to promoting voluntary compliance and reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Distracted driving and speeding pose serious risks, and campaigns like this are essential to confronting these behaviors and ensuring safer roadways for all motorists.” To improve roadway safety, officials say drivers should avoid multitasking and keep their phones out of reach, obey speed limits, allow for extra travel time during busy commutes, and maintain a safe following distance between vehicles. Funding for the increased patrols is provided through the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program, a state initiative that uses federal grants to support local traffic safety enforcement. ...read more read less