IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County travelers will see heightened state police patrols on a few of the main throughways in the coming months.

Troopers from the Iron Mountain Post of the Michigan State Police are kicking off their 2015 traffic safety initiative. It started with researching where problem areas were for traffic crashes. This led them to focus the initiative on M–95, M–69 and US–2. Troopers will be increasing their focus on drunk and drug driving, as well as distracted driving. The initiative is a two–way street between troopers and the public.

“If they are going to be traveling to work, have they left enough time,” asked Community Service Trooper Geno Basanese with the Michigan State Police, Iron Mountain Post. “How are the road conditions? If they’re going to go out and celebrate and have a few drinks, do they have somebody that’s going to be picking them up? Are they texting? Are they doing things in their vehicle that are not causing them to focus strictly on the road?”

Troopers will be increasing their focus on drunk and drug driving, as well as distracted driving.

The motivation for such an initiative boils down to one simple thing.

“Our ultimate goal is to have people travel safe while in Dickinson County and while traveling through Dickinson County,” said Tpr. Basanese.

Every state police post in the state hosts a traffic initiative each year.

It will run through Labor Day.