The Searcy Police Department today launched a tough new speed enforcement blitz for the City of Searcy under the tagline: “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”  The intensified enforcement effort against speeding drivers underscores the severity of the problem both locally and across the nation.

“Speeding translates to death on our roadways. It greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Speeding drivers put themselves, their passengers and other drivers at tremendous risk” said Officer Andrew Baker, department spokesperson.

In 2005, speeding was a contributing factor in more than a third of all fatal crashes in the U.S. and more than 13,000 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“During the “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” blitz, officers will intensify enforcement of posted speed limits in Searcy.  We’ll stop and ticket anyone caught speeding—especially on West Beebe Capps and South Main Street, where most of our speed-related crashes occur” said Baker

Fully 86 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occur on local roads -- where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. About 14 percent of the country’s speeding-related fatalities occur on interstate highways each year.

“During this enforcement blitz, officers will be out targeting and ticketing speeding drivers,” said Baker. “Our goal is to save lives and we’re putting all drivers on alert - the posted speed limit IS THE LAW. No more warnings and no more excuses. When it comes to speeding: Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”

For more information please visit http://trafficsafetymarketing.gov/.