DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Polk County Sheriff's Office is working with other Des Moines metro area law enforcement agencies on a special traffic enforcement project Tuesday focusing on seat belt use and speeding.
It comes as the Iowa State Patrol has reported numerous incidents of people driving at what it calls egregious speeds--100 miles-an-hour or faster.
"It does effect us here in Polk County. Obviously we've got two interstates that run through. It's not just on the interstates, though--it seems to be a high rate of speed in a lot of areas--highway travel and things like that" says Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ryan Evans.
He says the enforcement project is a good opportunity for the Sheriff's Office and local police departments to work together.
"When we have a chance to do a collaborative effort, and bring in lots of agencies, it gives us a chance to have several agencies with a lot more cars so we can really focus on traffic safety" Evans says.
The project is Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Evans says doing it during the evening commute is not a coincidence.
"A lot of people seem to be in a hurry to get home, I guess--we want to cover that. The other big thing for traffic is young people--there's a lot of them on the road during those hours. We really want to educate young people and help them become better drivers" he says.
Evans says as of September 25th, 239 people have been killed in vehicle accident in Iowa.
The Sheriff's Office says nearly 42 percent of those killed weren't wearing seatbelts.
They say speed is often a contributing factor in these accidents.