The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office will have extra patrols on the road to help people slow down during March 2024.

UMATILLA COUNTY — The month of March is Speed Awareness Month, and the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office will have extra patrols on the road to help slow people down,.

For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities, according to the sheriff’s office. In 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people.

“We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users,” UCSO said in a press release.

Speeding is more than just breaking the law. Here are some of the consequences of speeding beyond getting a ticket:

• Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.
• Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment.
• Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger.
• Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries.
• Economic implications of a speed-related crash.
• Increased fuel consumption/cost.