Put the Phone Away or Pay

Officers with the Jasper Police Department are on high alert as they participate in an annual traffic safety campaign looking for people speeding or driving while distracted. 

Distracted driving and speeding caused over 17,000 thousand crashes across Indiana in 2024, resulting in 230 deaths. 

To help save lives, the Jasper Police Department is participating in a traffic safety campaign from April 5 through April 19. During the campaign, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, motorists should expect to see an increase in roving and high-visibility patrols. 

“Distracted driving isn’t just risky, it’s deadly,” said James Bryan, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Director. “Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call, or notification is worth the cost of a crash.” 

Distracted driving, which involves cellphone use or any activity that takes attention away from the task of driving, is risky behavior that endangers everyone on the road, from the distracted driver and other drivers to passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving. 

In 2020, Indiana passed a law prohibiting holding or using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Since then, law enforcement agencies have worked to educate motorists, issuing 7,684 hands- free citations and 11,203 warnings in 2024 alone. Violating the law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500 and results in points being added to an individual’s driver’s license. 

“We all share the road, and all Hoosiers share the responsibility to drive safely,” said Douglas Huntsinger, ICJI’s Executive Director. “Slowing down is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others.” 

Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object or an unexpected curve. As speed increases, so does the likelihood of a crash and the degree of severity, leading to more severe injuries for the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

Speeding also increases the potential for loss of vehicle control, especially in inclement weather, and reduces the effectiveness of occupant protection equipment. 

“Speed limits exist for a reason, and so does Indiana’s hands-free law,” said Assistant Chief Aaron Persohn. “Our priority is keeping our community safe, and we will be enforcing the law to ensure that happens.” 

For more information on distracted driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving, or for more information about Indiana’s hands-free device driving law, visit www.HandsFreeIndiana.com. 

For more information on speeding, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.