INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) awarded $5.7 million in grant funding to more than 200 police departments for enhanced traffic enforcement. Agencies will use the money to conduct overtime patrols and carry out strategies aimed at curbing dangerous driving. Locally, the Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office received $33,000.
Most of their efforts will take place during targeted enforcement campaigns, which coincide with some of the deadliest times of the year to be on the road, such as the upcoming holiday season. While officers will be on the lookout for all traffic violations, their focus will be on addressing some of the leading causes of fatal crashes including impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, and lack of seat belt use.
According to the latest statistics, 20,175 people died in vehicle crashes nationwide in the first half of 2022, up slightly from the previous year. Despite the discouraging report, traffic fatalities decreased by 4.9% in the second quarter of 2022, signifying the first year-to-year decline since the pandemic.
Unfortunately, this is the opposite of what statewide data is showing in Indiana, as fatalities continue to rise. As of October, ICJI estimates that 814 people lost their lives in fatal collisions this year, an 18.5% increase from pre-pandemic 2019.
