Arkansas Law Enforcement Cracks Down on Speeding With July Safety Campaign

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas drivers can expect to see more patrol cars on the roads starting July 9 as part of a statewide push to reduce speeding and prevent deadly crashes.

The campaign, called Speeding Slows You Down, runs through July 31 and involves a partnership between the Arkansas Highway Safety Office, local and state law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Officers across the state — from Arkansas State Police troopers to county deputies and city police — will be watching for speeders and issuing citations to drivers who exceed the posted limits.

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“Speed limits are set to keep everyone safe,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “They minimize the likelihood of a crash and reduce the force of impact if one does happen — which goes up dramatically with each extra 10 miles per hour.”

In short: faster speeds mean more risk, and enforcement agencies are working to make that point clear this month.

Speeding continues to be a major cause of deadly wrecks both in Arkansas and across the country. In 2023, speeding was a factor in nearly 12,000 traffic deaths nationwide — about 29% of all fatalities, according to NHTSA. In Arkansas alone, one out of every five traffic deaths last year was speeding-related.

And while many people think of speeding as a highway issue, national data shows that’s not the case. In fact, 88% of all speed-related fatalities in 2023 happened on roads other than interstates.

That’s why this campaign is focused especially on local streets, school zones and neighborhood roads — the places where most speed-related crashes actually happen. Law enforcement agencies will be concentrating their patrols in those areas during the campaign.

“Driving over the speed limit — whether it’s 5 miles an hour or 25 — puts lives at risk,” Hagar said. “It’s not worth it, and we’re going to be out there making sure people get that message.”

Speeding also makes it harder for drivers to steer safely around curves, obstacles or other vehicles. It’s an aggressive behavior that cuts down on reaction time and increases the chance of serious injury or death.

Drivers who want to learn more about the risks of speeding can visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding. For more information about Arkansas’ broader effort to reduce traffic deaths, visit www.tzdarkansas.org or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.