Safety corridor aims to decrease danger on New Mexico highway

If you drive on Highway 128 in New Mexico, you’ve seen the high amount of traffic on that road. Speeders and distracted drivers can cause severe accidents when sharing the way with large trucks. Now New Mexico officials hope to make the highway safer.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) plans to make Highway 128 a safety corridor. By increasing fines for driving violations like speeding, texting or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, NMDOT and New Mexico state police hope to use the safety corridor to decrease traffic accidents on the busy road.

Increasing fines and police patrol

The safety corridor will be between mile markers five and 50. NMDOT chose this stretch of highway based on research into the high amount of accidents and traffic violations on the road. The rules of the corridor let police charge double fines for any violations. The state police also plan to have more officers patrol the highway.

Heavy truck traffic on Highway 128

One of the main reasons for selecting this stretch of highway is the amount of truck traffic. NMDOT officials said that around 85% of vehicles on Highway 128 are trucks. Many of these are trucks from oil fields.

By focusing on this area, NMDOT and state police want to reduce serious accidents between trucks and cars.

Accidents involving trucks can cause serious injury

When other drivers choose to break traffic laws or drive distractedly, they put you in danger. And an accident on Highway 128 can put you at risk of crashing with a heavy truck, causing serious damage and injuries.

By increasing fines and patrols, New Mexico officials hope to make your drive along Highway 128 safer.