In a one-hour period, eight traffic officers easily write 50 to 80 speeding tickets. Basically, there is a traffic violation every two to three minutes here, says Lt. Greg Schnake. People are driving 78 to 104 miles per hour. It s our job to slow them down, and hopefully, save lives. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, speeding on the nation's roadways is a contributing factor in as many as one third of all fatal crashes.
Fatal crashes are only a small part of the total safety picture, though.
Many people are injured in speed-related crashes. Earlier this summer, several fatal accidents where speed was involved, occurred on Fort Worth roadways. Almost immediately, the 40-member traffic unit hit the freeways, and for eight weeks issued speeding citation after citation. During that time, no accidents were reported. Staying safe while catching speeders is the aim of the Fort Worth Police Department.