ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — Starting Thursday, law enforcement agencies in St. Charles County and Lincoln County are cracking down on speeders and distracted drivers. Officers will be out patrolling a dangerous stretch of U.S. Highway 61 north of Interstate 70.
The St. Charles County Police Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are teaming up for National Distracted Driver Awareness Month.
Drivers will notice a highly visible police presence along the north and southbound lanes of Highway 61 between Interstate 70 and the Village of Eolia. Police said they see more distracted driving and speeding in this area, and it has caused several crashes.
Law enforcement officials said Highway 61 is a non-controlled access roadway that is not intended for high-speed traffic. Still, many drivers frequently drive distracted at increased speeds, causing collisions with vehicles exiting and entering from the side roads.
“We see wrecks there, unfortunately, on a regular basis, due to people speeding and distracted driving," said St. Charles County Police Patrolman Barry Bales. "They’re pretty serious ones. They’re not just your average fender-bender, typically. They are crashes involving semis that drive that road often, commuters driving in the morning and the afternoon, and families that use that road as well. There’s a couple county parks out there.”
Traffic law violators will be issued citations and referred to the municipal courts.