DPS task force targets unsafe driving in Bastrop County

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), along with the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office, the Bastrop Police Department, the Elgin Police Department and the Smithville Police Department will be enhancing efforts to reduce vehicle crashes in Bastrop County on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 by focusing on unsafe speed, the move-over law, distracted driving and intoxicated drivers on Texas highways.

Bastrop County High Traffic Accountability (HTA) Task Force is a DPS Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division alliance to coordinate enforcement efforts to reduce vehicle crashes in Bastrop County, with a high emphasis on crash reduction and detection of unsafe and intoxicated drivers on Texas highways. The HTA Task Force will target traffic enforcement on vehicles that are violating traffic law and creating an unsafe environment for motorists traveling the highways.

Agencies will be patrolling throughout Bastrop County, specifically on the following roadways: U.S. 290, SH 95, SH 71 and SH 21. These roadways have been identified as the roadways with the highest expectation of vehicular traffic and subsequently the highest probability for crashes. Through enforcement efforts combined with all law enforcement agencies within Bastrop County, enhanced enforcement activities will reduce crashes and intoxication offenses. These activities will ultimately improve highway safety by focusing efforts on hazardous moving violations.