LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- A startling rise in deadly car crashes this year in Indiana has state police concerned. But there's a new strategy officers hope will fix the problem.
Indiana has had 24 more fatal car wrecks this year than at the same time last year. Indiana State Police have launched a program to reduce those statistics.
The first wave of troopers on motorcycles hit the streets Wednesday morning. They will be sticklers for the rules of the road when it comes to violations such as speeding or distracted driving. With 319 fatal wrecks in Indiana this year, the word has come down from Indianapolis to step up the effort.
Trooper Mary Sanchez is one of 30 from the Sellersburg post cracking down on violators: "For the people going five over, I'm not worried about them. It's 15 to 20 and up."
You'll see motorcycle patrols along I-65 and air patrols hovering over areas such as State Road 111 in Floyd County. You'll also see police cruisers in rural areas where they don't normally patrol. Police say that's where they've seen the biggest increase in fatal accidents.
Officers will also more aggressively enforce the law against texting while driving: Sgt. Jerry Goodin said Wednesday, "Troopers are going to be specifically looking for drivers who speed, follow too closely, fail to buckle up, and those who fail to properly restrain children. We're also going to aggressively be looking for people that are impaired drivers, with absolutely zero tolerance when they're caught."
Trooper says this is not about quotas or collecting more money in tickets.
On Wednesday, it didn't take long for Trooper Sanchez to make stops. She pulled over one driver who didn't have her license on her and ended up asking, "Do you have any ID at all, a purse?"
Her passenger's license was suspended, and he was an ex con. "Ask where they're coming from," Sanchez says, "she says Lexington he says Pee Wee Valley. No ID on either one of them. I'm getting ready to run them now."
A records check showed they were not wanted for any previous violations. But they did receive a $150 ticket. Sanchez explained to them, "This is all 55 in here and I clocked you going 72."
At the end, Sanchez had a simple word of advice: "Just remember that you're not the only person out here driving."
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