Austin Police To Crack Down On Speeders

AUSTIN, TX — Austin police began bolstered enforcing on high-speed and high-traffic roadways across the city, officials said Monday.

The effort began on Friday, May 15. The initiative was triggered by a significant number of fatal and serious injury crashes occuring in the city even as overall traffic is down due to the spread of coronavirus that has led to mass closings, officials noted.

In its advisory, the Austin Police Department reported seeing excessive speeds during their shifts, most recently stopping two different vehicles on Monday morning that were traveling at more than 100 miles per hour on Mopac Expressway (Texas Loop 1).

To combat the trend, the traffic operation will run citywide through Sunday, May 31, according to police. To that end, officers will concentrate on reducing crashes overall through directed patrols. The increased patrol visibility is intended to dissuade speeding, red-light violations and other dangerous driving behaviors that contribute to unsafe conditions for all road users, officials explained.

The Austin Police Department works in partnership with the Austin Transportation Department and other governmental bodies to advance ongoing programs such as Vision Zero that enhance safety, officials said.