Photo: Thomas Winz / Photodisc / Getty Images
(Urbandale, IA) -- Law enforcement in Urbandale is cracking down on speeding this July. For the month of July, the Urbandale Police Department is partnering with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the nationwide 'Speeding Catches Up With You' campaign.
"Speeding is a high-risk incident, and it's not necessarily something that just affects you and maybe your pocketbook if you get a citation, but it also affects other drivers. Many drivers think it's okay to drive just a few miles over the speed limit, when in reality, the posted speed limit is the speed limit," said Sergeant Joe Fisher with the Urbandale Police Department.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 12,000 people died and more than 330,000 were injured in speeding-related accidents nationwide in 2023.
"Speeding is an unfortunate result of the increased number of cars that we have and people traveling throughout the community. Increased speed can result in potentially more severe injuries if you're in a collision, increases your stopping distance, and significantly decreases your reaction time."
Fisher says that due to Hickman Road construction, there has been a slight increase in traffic, and subsequently, speeding in other areas of Urbandale.
The enforcement initiative will continue through the end of the month. Urbandale PD says that drivers should expect increased patrols and a zero-tolerance policy for excessive speeding.