Commuters familiar with driving on I-75 from Covington to Erlanger can probably understand why Kenton County law enforcement are choosing that stretch of highway for an upcoming traffic crackdown.
The second wave of an I-75 corridor enforcement blitz will kick off next week, starting on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14. The first wave, as more than 200 drivers issued citations may already know, was last week.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data, Columbus Day had the second-highest total of fatal crashes among all holidays in 2017—trailing only Independence Day,” police said in a release.
In just one day during that initial blitz, Northern Kentucky law enforcement issued 281 tickets to drivers along the I-75 corridor for everything from speeding to texting to not wearing a seatbelt.
Police and state troopers along I-75 in Kenton County were patrolling from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the help of a federal highway traffic safety grant. Police said four people died along that stretch of highway in 2018, and they hope their efforts will make the highway safer.
Northern Kentucky residents said they're well aware of how unsafe the stretch of I-75 between Covington and Erlanger can be for drivers.
"It's like a speedway," said James Deho, a Ft. Mitchell resident. "I've seen cars...I'm judging over 80 miles per hour. They just pass you. It's a raceway."
Residents like Deho and Mark Fleesner, who also lives in Ft. Mitchell, said they'd prefer to see a permanent solution put in place for the dangerous stretch of highway.
"The solution is there should already be a police post every so many miles, especially here in Fort Mitchell where the speed limit changes down to 55," said Fleesner.
This is why, in addition to the announced blitzes happening, law enforcement will also have random days in the campaign that aren't announced to the public. Lt. Jon Sterling with Erlanger Police said the campaign is intended, not to write tickets, but to change driving behaviors in the area.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data, Columbus Day had the second-highest total of fatal crashes among all holidays in 2017—trailing only Independence Day,” police said in a release.
Here’s a breakdown of the 281 tickets they issued on Oct. 1:
- Speeding: 88
- DUI: 1
- Improper Lane Use: 13
- Fail To Move For Emergency Vehicle: 20
- No Insurance/No Proof: 42
- Texting: 9
- No/Expired Registration: 17
- Failure To Transfer Vehicle: 6
- Suspended License: 20
- Reckless Driving: 10
- Improper/No Signal: 7
- Disregard Traffic Regulation: 4
- Expired Driver’s License: 3
- Following Too Close: 9
- Failure To Give Right of Way: 2
- Not Wearing Seat belt: 11
- Improper Passing: 3
- Failure To Notify Department of Transportation: 1
- Other Citations: 15
