DOT announces I-93 speeding, distracted driving initiative

A U.S. Border Patrol agent checks a car on the I-93 southbound lane on Wednesday, September 28, 2017 south of the Route 175 exit south of Lincoln.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent checks a car on the I-93 southbound lane on Wednesday, September 28, 2017 south of the Route 175 exit south of Lincoln. Geoff Forester

Monitor staff

Published: 02-23-2024 10:20 AM

Modified: 02-23-2024 11:41 AM

State Police will be out in force on Interstate 93 on Saturday with an eye out for speeders and distracted drivers. 

“Law enforcement officers will be working to deter and detect drivers who are operating above the speed limit, holding a cell phone or sending text messages while driving in violation of state law,” the Department of Safety announced Friday.

Increased patrols will be on the highway in Merrimack and Belknap counties, from the town of Boscawen up to the town of Plymouth. Since 2019, nine people have been killed and more than 1,000 crashes have occurred within this stretch of the interstate, most occurred during the daytime with clear and dry weather conditions, according to the Department of Safety.

The state saw 122 deadly crashes in 2023, with 11 more so far this year.  

“Speeding and distracted driving are both preventable causes of crashes,” said New Hampshire Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards. “Alongside our partners from state, county and local law enforcement agencies, our goal is to change negative driving behaviors and save lives.”

The additional patrols will be funded by grants from tthe U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.