The Arkansas Highway Safety Office (AHSO) is launching the “Speeding Slows You Down” high-visibility enforcement campaign in partnership with Arkansas law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The statewide initiative will run from July 9 through July 31, with officers stepping up patrols to issue speeding citations and educate drivers about the dangers of excessive speed.
The campaign aims to highlight the life-threatening consequences of speeding, a behavior that continues to be a major contributor to fatal crashes both in Arkansas and across the nation.
According to NHTSA, 11,775 people were killed in speeding-related crashes in 2023, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities in the United States. In Arkansas, the numbers are similarly grim—one in five traffic deaths last year was tied to speeding.
“Speed limits are set to keep all road users safe,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “They minimize the likelihood of crashes and reduce the force of impact when they do occur. Every additional 10 miles per hour dramatically increases the risk of death or serious injury.”
Colonel Hagar emphasized that driving above the posted speed limit is not only reckless but illegal. “When a driver speeds, they are making a choice that disregards their own life, the lives of others, and the law—regardless of their reason,” he said.
While many associate speeding with highways and interstates, the majority of fatal speeding-related crashes occur on local roads. In 2023, a staggering 88% of speeding-related fatalities happened on roads other than interstates, including neighborhood streets and school zones.
“Speeding in local areas is particularly dangerous,” Hagar noted. “Drivers often feel more relaxed or less watched, but that’s exactly where most of the danger lies. This campaign will focus heavily on these roads.”
During the enforcement period, Arkansas State Troopers, county sheriff’s deputies, and city police officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols on streets and highways across the state. Officers will be especially focused on neighborhoods, school zones, and secondary roads, where speeding is most common and often most dangerous.
In addition to issuing citations, law enforcement agencies will be working to educate the public about the consequences of speeding and encourage safe driving behavior.
Speeding isn’t just a ticket—it’s a threat to life. This July, Arkansas officials are urging all drivers to slow down, follow posted speed limits, and make safety a priority every time they get behind the wheel.
For more information about speeding prevention and safe driving tips, visit www.nhtsa.gov/speeding.
