Last updated on 2012.12.08
While some Sioux Fallsians vow to fight for their right to thumb their noses at your safety while thumbing "WHERE R U IM DRVING" to people they'll see in five minutes, the South Dakota Highway Patrol says its summer-long stepped up enforcement of highway safety laws may have saved lives:
Preliminary reports show South Dakota's "100 Days of Heat" safe-driving campaign resulted in fewer highway fatalities than the 10-year average for the same period.
During the period from the start of the Memorial Day weekend through the end of the Labor Day weekend this year, South Dakota recorded 50 fatalities as a result of highway crashes. Statistics from the State Office of Highway Safety show that for the past 10 years, the average number of fatalities during the same period has been 61.
"Too many people are still dying and being injured in crashes on South Dakota highways," said Col. Craig Price, superintendent of the Highway Patrol. "However, we experienced a significant reduction this summer compared with the long-term averages, and that is encouraging." The focus of the summer-long campaign was on drunk driving, seatbelt use and speeding, major factors in a majority of our highway fatalities and injuries [State of South Dakota, press release, September 4, 2012].
I guess I didn't notice a much tighter police state over the summer. But the highway safety office numbers bear some skepticism, as they are another fine example of data showing correlation but not causation. Maybe the Highway Patrol's 100 Days of Heat kept a few more people alive... but maybe July's 31 days of heat just kept more people off the roads and home in the safe, soothing AC.
The 100 Days of Heat TV ads were different enough that they may have gotten attention from people who always go for coffee or the bathroom when a public service type ad hits the screen.
Yeah those ads were pretty out there.
I'm happy for Craig to have something positive to talk about, he is a really good guy. He was my year from a neighboring high school, and I always liked him. That's not something I would have ever expected to say about a HiPo.
SooFoo safest driving city in US:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2012/08/sioux-falls-s-d-safest-city-for-driving/
nobody cares Justin, pigs are pigs. hiPo can suck it!
Interesting Larry, my body shop customers from the sufu say now with cell and texting they're busy all the time like it was before when ice hit.
Adam, what a mindless comment. You insult both Justin and the Highway Patrol for no apparent reason. If you really want to feel tough, call the Highway Patrol pigs and tell them to "suck it" when they are out in the snow and wind helping stranded motorists.