CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With most of us stuck at home these days, there’s plenty of room on area roadways. But, police in Batavia said drivers shouldn’t get used to wide open roadways or get in the habit of speeding as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on. Deputy Police Chief Shawn Mazza said the past few weeks have been unusual for everybody, especially for law enforcement, and he’s noticed a few trends on the roads. “There has been a noticeable decrease in the amount of vehicle traffic,” he said. “But from a speeding standpoint, we are still receiving those speeding complaints in a larger number, in some respects.
"What I can say, as we come out of this COVID-19 crisis and the Governor starts opening stuff back up more, and there is more and more motoring traffic out there, we are basically going to watch and pay attention," Mazza said.
Mazza said nationwide statistics also show a rise in deadly car accidents during the pandemic, and he has a warning for drivers. “We’re going to increase our enforcement here and crack down on speeding and other traffic violations in the next few weeks and months. I can guarantee that," he said.
Mazza said increased patrols will ensure drivers are following posted speed limits and other rules of the road, but he admits it may take some time to get used to dealing with busy streets again.