TEXAS, USA — The Texas Highway Patrol is increasing its presence on several state highways from Aug. 6 to 8 to curb fatal road accidents, including on Interstate 20.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced the effort in a press release Friday.
DPS troopers will be on the lookout for drivers engaging in unsafe practices such as not wearing a seatbelt, aggressive driving, speeding and driving under the influence.
The patrol is part of the state's SafeDRIVE initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic collisions involving commercial motor vehicles. Major interstate corridors in Texas with a high rate of fatal commercial motor vehicles, including 18-wheelers, crashes are subject to periods of heightened enforcement of safe driving laws.
Although the number of road fatalities in Texas has been on the decline, the state experienced one traffic death every two hours in 2023, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Troopers will also be present on Interstates 10, 35, 40 and 45.