12 States Partner for the Highway 20 Speed Enforcement Project

COLUMBUS – On Sept. 13, troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined our law enforcement partners across the country as part of the ongoing “Highway 20 Speed Enforcement Project.”

The “Highway 20 Speed Enforcement Project,” started by the Iowa State Patrol, has grown into a nationwide effort among state police, state highway patrol and local police agencies to promote traffic safety and reduce crashes across the 12 states that U.S. 20 runs through.

U.S. 20 spans nearly the length of the country from west to east, running from Newport, Ore. to Boston. In 1989, U.S. 20 was determined to be 3,365 miles long, making it the longest highway in the country; although as of 2020, various projects have slightly shortened its length.

The “Highway 20 Speed Enforcement Project” is a bimonthly collaborative effort, taking place on a select day with a two-hour initiative in the morning and a two-hour initiative in the evening. During this past initiative, 68 officers across the country made 475 contacts with the motoring public. Of those, 288 resulted in citations, 180 warnings were given and five motorists were assisted.

“Speed-related crashes are preventable,” said Sergeant Bridget A. Matt, spokesperson for the Patrol. “Our troopers and law enforcement partners from across the country want to make U.S. 20 as safe as possible, which is why we encourage motorists to drive responsibly and obey the posted speed limits, so that everyone can make it to their destinations safely.”

Specifically, in Ohio, U.S. 20 covers 259 miles, crossing through the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Findlay, Bucyrus, Cleveland and Warren districts. During the Sept. 13 project, 33 troopers from nine posts issued 83 citations, 57 warnings and assisted 11 motorists, furthering the spirit of the overall project not only in Ohio, but across the entire length of U.S. 20.

The public is encouraged to call #677 in Ohio or 911 to report drug activity, and dangerous or impaired drivers.