For more than a year, law enforcement agencies across the nation have reported an alarming rise in speeding and fatal crashes despite a decrease in the number of road miles traveled.

To combat the trend, The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and more than 100 other municipal, county, and Michigan State Police law enforcement agencies will focus on speeding drivers starting now and ending on Feb. 28.

While Michigan has seen a more than 20 percent reduction in traffic crashes – there has been an increase in fatalities.

Crash data from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center shows more than 1,000 people died from crashes on Michigan roads in 2020, a 10 percent increase over the year before.

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is also uring drivers to slow down, as speed has been a factor in the rise in deaths.