Crime & Safety
Be Warned, Waukee Commuters: Up to 9 Unmarked Police Patrolling Interstate 80/35 During Rush Hour
The pilot project aims to curb the major causes of highway fatalities – speeding, following too closely and swerving.
A pilot project aimed at reducing interstate crashes in the Des Moines metro area means commuters should watch their speed during morning and afternoon rush hour.
Up to nine unmarked Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Transportation cars will patrol Interstate 35/80 from Altoona to the Mills Civic Parkway exit in West Des Moines from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. as part of Operation Safe Commute, the Des Moines Register reported.
That stretch of the road was chosen based on DOT crash data.
Patrols will be on duty Tuesday and Thursday of this week, and the program will be continued through March and April before results are evaluated.
State Patrol Sgt. Scott Bright thinks the added patrol will “change people’s driving behaviors.”
“And we will be enforcing laws out there,” he warned.
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