(Aug. 1, 2014) The New York State Police will join law enforcement officials in 14 other states to increase traffic enforcement on one of the country’s most highly-traveled interstates. The “I90/94 Challenge” conducted on I-90 and I-94 across the United States, is part of a four-day effort aimed at saving lives by cracking down on dangerous driving offenses.
The New York State Police will be teaming up under the “I90/94 Challenge” to cover 372 miles of the New York State Thruway from Aug. 1 to 4. The campaign focuses on seat belt and safety restraint use, speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving and unsafe driving behaviors of large trucks and buses. In New York, the State Police enforcement will be bolstered by the use of several electronic messaging boards, posters in all rest areas and a social media campaign using #9094challenge.
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “The New York State Police are dedicated to traffic safety and all ongoing efforts to prevent the tragic deaths that occur on our roadways. By partnering with law enforcement in 14 other states and sending this united message of traffic safety we are confident we can make our highways safer for everyone.”
?The New York Thruway has recently experienced its safest years in history, but more than 33,000 people are killed in traffic crashes each year across the nation and many of those fatalities happen on I-90 and I-94.
Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas J. Madison said, “Our partnership with New York State Police Troop T has helped to make the New York State Thruway one of America’s safest highways, and the past few years have been the safest years in our nearly six-decade history. We support the I-90/94 campaign goal of zero deaths and are proud to work with the New York State Police and other states across the nation to encourage drivers everywhere to use care while driving and help keep our roads safe for all.”
Barbara J. Fiala, Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, said, “We are very pleased to support this enforcement campaign being conducted by the New York State Police which is aimed at reducing the number of crashes and fatalities on the New York State Thruway. We know that these efforts, and those of the other participating law enforcement agencies across the country, will make a traditionally dangerous time on the roads much safer for all who will travel on Interstates 90 and 94 this weekend.”
The 15 states participating in the challenge are:
· New York
· Massachusetts
· Pennsylvania
· Ohio
· Michigan
· Indiana
· Illinois
· Wisconsin
· Minnesota
· South Dakota
· North Dakota
· Wyoming
· Montana
· Idaho
· Washington
Law enforcement hope to meet the following targets during the four day Challenge across the nearly 5,700 mile corridor:
· Zero fatalities
· Fewer than 69 injury crashes
· Fewer than 263 total crashes
· Fewer than 6 alcohol related crashes
· Fewer than 29 crashes involving a large truck or bus