DES MOINES, Iowa - Police departments all over the Des Moines Metro will be be on the roads for a special traffic enforcement project later this week.
Beginning July 5th, impaired and distracted drivers, and those not wearing seat belts, will draw extra attention from police.
"Law enforcement officer from the metropolitan area and many other central Iowa jurisdictions will be enforcing all traffic laws and they'll be paying particular attention to impaired and distracted driving, seat belt usage and speed awareness," said Sergeant Chad Underwood with the Urbandale Police Department.
Police say the statistics show seat belt usage and obeying the speed limit save lives when accidents happen.
"These projects we do are intended to basically make the public aware of safe driving habits and to try to save lives out there on the roadway, especially in the 4th of July holiday when the roadways become a little bit more crowded."
The joint effort is part of the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.