Regional Officials Focus On Speeding Drivers: ‘Slow Down New England’

HAMPTON, NH — Safety officials from five of the six New England states met in New Hampshire on Tuesday to assist with a national effort to slow down the speed of drivers while using both anti-speeding enforcement and social norming campaigns.

The effort, “Slow Down New England,” will work in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to target excessive speed and aggressive driving being reported all around the United States. Officials are also attempting to reduce the number of crashes on highways in all six states, which are on the uptick.

Capt. Chris Vetter of the New Hampshire State Police, who serves as the commander of the state’s Office of Highway Safety, said it had become “an everyday occurrence” for state troopers to witness vehicles traveling more than 100 mph on Granite State Interstates.

“There are no reasonable explanations for exceeding speed limits,” he said. “Excuses are no comfort to families or loved ones of those who have been killed in a motor vehicle crash.”

During the past five years, 251 people have been killed in speed-related crashes in the state, Vetter said.

Arthur Kinsman, the regional administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said there had been “a fairly dramatic increase” in fatalities across the country and New England. The “Slow Down New England” campaign isn’t about “scaring motorists with the threat of a speeding ticket; it’s really about saving lives,” he said.

Each state will also coordinate with local police departments as part of the effort.

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