Macy – As of yesterday, there have been 437 reported traffic fatalities on rural Indiana roadways. That is 38 more lives lost than during this time last year. The Indiana State Police is committed to reducing fatalities on rural roads by utilizing all available resources to combat the deadly increase.

This morning, the Indiana State Police Peru Post utilized a pilot and an air plane from the Indiana State Police Aviation Section to fly over Northern Miami County observing for motorists breaking Indiana’s traffic laws. The pilot focused his attention on those traffic violations which have been identified as crash causation factors such as disregarding a traffic control device, speeding, following too closely, and unsafe lane movements. When the pilot witnessed a violation, he would dispatch the offending vehicle identifying information to a group of four troopers, who were waiting on the ground.  A trooper would then stop the vehicle and issue either a ticket or a warning based on the observations of the pilot.

Today, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., troopers issued 13 traffic citations. Twelve citations were for speeding, with a top speed of 94 miles per hour in a posted 60 miles per hour zone. One citation was issued for following another vehicle too closely. Officers also issued 22 warnings for various traffic violations.

“Our goal is to reduce traffic deaths on our roads and have voluntary compliance of Indiana’s traffic laws,” stated Sergeant Rick Brown, squad leader for the Indiana State Police Peru Post. “We also want the few reckless motorists who endanger the majority to be aware that troopers are watching from the ground and maybe from the sky."