“Eyes on 94” Aims to Crack Down on Speeders, Distracted Drivers

Three states recently teamed up to bring more attention to enforcement of driving violations on I-94 with the ultimate goal of reducing collisions, reports ClickOnDetroit.com.

The “Eyes on 94” initiative, which ran from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, was a coordinated effort of Michigan State Police, Indiana State Police, and Illinois State Police. The objective was to increase driver awareness through high-visibility enforcement on the I-94 freeway of moving violations such as speeding and distracted driving.

Both speeding and distracted driving remain two of the nation’s most hazardous roadway problems. Speeding endangers everyone on the road — not only other drivers and motor vehicle passengers, but also pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users.

In 2020, speeding took the lives of some 11,258 people nationwide according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreover, that same year, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all U.S. traffic fatalities.

Distracted driving is an equally concerning risky driving behavior. In 2020 alone, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,142 people in the U.S., notes NHTSA. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

During the recent “Eyes in 94” initiative, officers also focused on ticketing drivers who were tailgating, or those who engaged in improper passing, improper lane use, and failure to slow down or move over.