ASP reminds motorists to take time, use patience

As motorists take to the roads this summer, Arkansas State Police and other law enforcement agencies remind drivers to obey speed limits and to keep their cool while traveling. Law enforcement officers across the state will be participating in a Speeding Slows You Down high-visibility enforcement campaign starting Wednesday and continuing through the end of the month. Arkansas State Police will be joined by county and city agencies by providing high visibility patrols and issuing speeding citations to drivers breaking the law, according to a press release from ASP. “Communities across America are affected every year by fatalities that occur in speeding-related crashes,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Col. Mike Hagar. According to Hagar, in 2023, there were 11,775 traffic fatalities that involved speeding, accounting for 29% of that year’s traffic fatalities. “Speeding fatalities are not just an issue nationally, but in Arkansas for 2023, one of five traffic fatalities were speeding related,” he added. “Speed limits are set to keep all road users safe,” continued Hagar. “They minimize the likelihood of crashes and the force of a crash’s impact on a person’s body, which dramatically increases with each additional 10 miles per hour of speed. When a driver or motorcyclist drives above the speed limit, they are acting with no regard for their life, the lives of others on the road, and the law. That remains true regardless of the reason a person chooses to drive over the speed limit.” Hagar said speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior that reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. “It's a common misconception that speeding is an interstate-related issue. In fact, in 2023, 88% of all speeding related traffic fatalities in the United States occurred on routes other than interstates,” NHTSA officials said. Hagar cautions that drivers in neighborhoods, school zones or secondary roads should be especially aware of this campaign and their speed. “Local roads are where most of our speeding-related crashes occur,” he said. “Arkansas law enforcement officers will be concentrating their efforts in these areas.” Another focus of law enforcement this summer is road rage, which has become more prevalent in recent years. “We urge drivers to stay calm, stay cool and avoid road rage on highways,” said Hagar. “With a growing number of aggressive driving incidents reported, ASP stresses the importance of maintaining composure to ensure safety for everyone on the road.” So far this year, ASP has investigated over 440 road rage incidents. Of these, 153 have involved one of the parties displaying a weapon. Last year, ASP investigated 800 road rage incidents including 333 cases that involved weapons. “These reported cases reflect a significant increase from 2023, when ASP investigated 284 cases of road rage,” said Hagar. "Troopers understand that driving can be frustrating at times, but aggressive driving and road rage are not the answer," said Hagar. "We want everyone to arrive safely at their destination. Remember, road rage can lead to dangerous situations that put your life and the lives of others at risk." State Police ask motorists to practice patience and courtesy while driving and to follow some guidelines to prevent road rage incidents. • Avoid engaging other drivers, even if something has occurred to make either driver angry. • Put as much distance between vehicles as possible. • Try not to make eye contact with the angered driver. • Never pull off the roadway to confront a driver because they could have weapons. • Avoid creating a competitive situation with another driver, even if the other driver is at fault. • Try not to take another person's aggressive driving personally. • If a speeding driver is tailgating or trying to engage in risky driving, safely steer your vehicle out of the way. • If someone believes they or being followed or harassed, call law enforcement. ASP urges motorists not to hesitate to call authorities if they witness road rage. Motorists who are a victim of road rage or aggressive driving that puts themselves or other motorists at risk should follow through and make a report. Call 911 or, in non-emergency incidents, call *ASP (*277) to be connected to a local Troop Headquarters.

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