- Police across Indiana will be out in force this month looking for speeders and distracted drivers. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute says the extra patrols will run from April 4th through April 13th as part of the annual Safer Roads Campaign.  Officers will work overtime shifts targeting drivers who are speeding or breaking Indiana's Hands-Free Law.

The numbers show why police are focused on these issues. Indiana recorded 249 speeding-related deaths in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted driving accounted for 47 fatal crashes that year, though the actual number is likely higher because of limitations in how the data is collected. Indiana's Hands-Free Law has been in effect since 2020. It bans drivers from holding their phones while driving. Calls can only be made using Bluetooth, a headset or other hands-free technology.

Police are urging drivers to put their phones down, follow speed limits and leave extra time during busy commute periods.

The enforcement effort is funded through the Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program, which provides federal money for local traffic safety work.

94.1 WGFA