Nebraska typically sees an increase in reckless and distracted driving during the summer, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). This year, it's urging motorists to be mindful behind the wheel.
“We really need those motorists to be the ones that also choose to make right choices when they're out on the road,” said Jeni Campana, a Public Relations Manager at NDOT. “We're seeing more work zone crashes, more distracted driving crashes, more speed related crashes.”
Earlier this summer, the Nebraska State Patrol issued 955 tickets to drivers during a two-week span. 43 of them were given to drivers going over 100 mph. The tickets were during the federal “Make it Click” campaign which promotes seatbelt safety.
“We're really taking this to heart because we had two employees that were killed on the road last year," Campana said. "And then just a couple of weeks ago, we had another employee that was struck and injured in a work zone. We really need our drivers to pay attention.”
“Make it Click” provides funding to local and state law enforcement to have a heightened presence.
“Having a heavier presence ensures that people are more likely to follow the rules of the road,” Campana said. “Our urban folks use them in the best way that works for their policies and procedures, where their spots are at, their trouble spots. The same is true in the rural areas, where can we make the biggest bang for our buck?”
Campana added the federal campaign typically aligns with events such as summer driving, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
“In 2022, over 3,000 people lost their lives in the country from distracted driving,” she said. “We really need our drivers to pay attention. It's a lot of responsibility, so you should make sure that your hands are on the wheel and you're focused on where you're going.”