Agencies crack down on speeders

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen OBEY THE SIGN: Motorists drive along the King Expressway Tuesday near one of the posted speed limit signs. As part of a statewide speed mobilization with the slogan, "Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine," Hot Springs police and Garland County sheriff's deputies are working areas known for excessive speeds. Police issued 28 speeding tickets on Monday on the expressway.
The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen OBEY THE SIGN: Motorists drive along the King Expressway Tuesday near one of the posted speed limit signs. As part of a statewide speed mobilization with the slogan, "Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine," Hot Springs police and Garland County sheriff's deputies are working areas known for excessive speeds. Police issued 28 speeding tickets on Monday on the expressway.

Hot Springs police issued 28 speeding citations and nine warnings on the King Expressway alone on Monday, the first day of a weeklong, statewide speed enforcement campaign, Cpl. Joey Williams said Tuesday.

Officers were heavily working the expressway throughout the day and stopped 37 vehicles, he said, noting the fastest vehicle was clocked on radar at 91 mph in a 65 mph zone.

"We will continue the speed mobilization through July 22 and will be working in different areas that we have been receiving complaints from citizens about," he said.

Speed was a contributing factor in 27 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S. and more than 9,500 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"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," according to the NTSA.

"During this enforcement blitz, officers will be out targeting and ticketing speeding drivers," Hot Springs police Sgt. Eric Stockwell said in a news release. "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.'"

Local on 07/18/2018

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