Two week special traffice enforcement effort is underway

A two-week special law enforcement program started Sunday to kick off the summer driving season. Lu Simpson of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says the “Buckle up America” program involves, city, county and state law officers. She says they’ll be checking for seatbelt usage, drunk and drugged drivers, and speeding and other traffic violations. Simpson says the next two weeks will see an increase in activities on the highways. She says we’re leaving spring behind and kids are getting out of school, more teens are driving, farmers are on the roadways, and our driving habits are changing. Simpson says the program is funded in part by federal money, and some of the time is donated. While other traffic safety programs have targeted certain roadways, Simpson says that’s not the case with this one.She say the agencies across the state are choosing the way they conduct the program. She says Iowa has been a leader in seat belt use, and programs like this help remind people to buckle up. Last year Iowa had 81-percent seatbelt usage, this year we’ve had 82-percent usage — which she says mean there are an additional 28-thousand people using their seatbelts. The special traffic effort will run through June 2nd.