Crime & Safety
Be Warned, West Des Moines Commuters: Up to 9 Unmarked Police Patrolling Interstate 80/35 During Rush Hour
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 West Des Moines and the Des Moines metro 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 from 6:30 -8:30 a.m. and 4-6 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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