Eleven State Highway Patrol leaders along with national transportation professionals, have accepted a challenge to eliminate fatalities along the entire 2,900-mile stretch of Interstate 80 July 24th through the 31st. The focus of the “I-80 Challenge” is to create public awareness through both an increased law enforcement presence and media outreach.  The  eleven (11) state highway patrol agencies along Interstate 80, including those in Iowa, have each dedicated an increased presence of troopers for each of the eight days during this challenge.

The event kicks off on the west steps of the Iowa State Capital Wednesday, beginning at 3-p.m.  Dignitaties on hand will include: Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad; Iowa Dept. of Public Safety Commissioner Brian London; Federal  Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Anne Ferro, and representatives with the California Highway Patrol, New Jersey State Police, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, and State Patrol agency representatives from 10 other states across the country.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration join their state and local law enforcement, partners to implement combined highway safety law enforcement campaigns, like More Cops. More Stops, which focuses enforcement on multiple traffic safety laws at one time.For more information on the More Cops More Stops campaign, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov