ISP joins law enforcement from 15 states in conducting enhanced traffic enforcement Aug. 1-4

I-90/94 Challenge: 5,681 miles, four days, zero fatalities

Motorists may notice an extra law enforcement presence when driving on two of the country's most highly traveled and dangerous interstates during a four-day enforcement campaign beginning Aug. 1.

Idaho State Police and law enforcement officials in 14 other states are joining together with a goal of zero deaths on Interstates 90 and 94 between Washington state and New York August 1st through the 4th.  That is more than 5,600 miles of road.

ISP troopers and hundreds of other troopers, officers and deputies in every state along those two corridors will be teaming up and cracking down on the most dangerous driving offenses during the "I-90/94 Challenge." The challenge will use education, awareness and strict enforcement to save lives and remind all motorists to drive safely and obey important traffic laws.

Law enforcement will ticket or arrest offenders caught speeding, driving drunk or impaired, driving distracted, not wearing their seat belts or any other behavior behind the wheel that puts lives at risk.

Traffic crashes kill more than 33,000 people each year in the United States.  Local, state and national traffic safety officials agree too many of those fatalities are happening on I-90 and I-94.

"While I-90 is just a 74 mile stretch across the panhandle of Idaho, there have been over 600 crashes along it in the past five years.  ISP wants to remind drivers about the importance of obeying traffic safety laws including the speed limit, wearing your seatbelt, driving sober and avoiding any distractions from the road," said Idaho State Police Lieutenant Chris Schenck.   "Our goal everyday is to save lives and we are pleased to join in this operation to bring awareness to the issue of driving safety and make these interstates safer for those who drive them, not just this weekend but every day."

The Problem on I-90 and I-94

From August 1st through 4th over the past three years, I-90/94 averages:
  -  524 total crashes
  -  136 injury crashes
  -  56 crashes involving a big trucks or buses
  -  10 alcohol-related crashes
  -  3 fatal crashes

The goal of the challenge
  -  Zero fatalities during that time period
  -  Cut in half all other crashes.

Specific goals for the enforcement period include:
  -  Fewer than 69 injury crashes
  -  Fewer than 263 total crashes
  -  Fewer than six alcohol-related crashes
  -  Fewer than 29 crashes involving a large truck or bus

I-90/94 Challenge was initiated and is led by the Minnesota State Patrol to help the International Association of Chiefs of Police reach its goal this year of reducing U.S. traffic fatalities by 15 percent.

The 15 states participating in the challenge are:
  -  Idaho
  -  Washington
  -  Montana
  -  Wyoming
  -  South Dakota
  -  North Dakota
  -  Minnesota
  -  Wisconsin
  -  Illinois
  -  Indiana
  -  Michigan
  -  Ohio
  -  Pennsylvania
  -  New York
  -  Massachusetts

Published 8-1-14