Final Statistics Reveal I-80 Challenge Makes Strong Impact

Police agencies in eleven states that encompass Interstate 80 have totaled their work from July 24-31. The results reveal the new, nation-wide I-80  Challenge enforcement project had a strong impact on traffic safety.

The I-80 Challenge was created as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's More Cops, More Stops campaign.  This eight day effort
produced not only a reduction in fatalities over the national average, but also enabled officers to step up their efforts to deter poor driving habits and gain voluntary compliance of traffic laws.

The eleven states from California to New Jersey dedicated nearly 23,000 enforcement hours to the I-80 Challenge. The officers working along I-80 removed 162 impaired drivers from the road, and issued 14,274 traffic citations and 9,411 warnings to passenger vehicle drivers. Additionally,
1,711 citations and 2,978 warnings were issued to commercial motor vehicle drivers.  
 
The I-80 Challenge was designed to target traffic safety in an effort to save
lives. Through their efforts however, officers were also able to apprehend numerous subjects utilizing I-80 for criminal activities. During the I-80 Challenge 92 drug charges were filed and more than 2.5 million dollars' worth of illegal drugs were confiscated.

Three states reported seizing weapons during traffic stops and an arrest on an active warrant for grand theft occurred.

Although the ultimate goal of the enforcement effort was to prevent all fatalities on the  2,900 miles of Interstate 80, two people died in traffic crashes during the eight-day effort. These fatalities happened in Nebraska and Ohio.

Law enforcement leaders knew eliminating all fatality collisions during the eight day period was an aggressive goal and would be extremely difficult to achieve. But, for highway safety professionals, accepting even a single fatality was not an option.

"Sadly, two lives were lost during the challenge but the overall success of the project is clear. We need to continue to make traffic safety a priority in the U.S. and continue looking for innovative ways to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our nation's highways," said Patrick Hoye, Bureau Chief of the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau and I-80 Challenge coordinator.