MIDLAND, Texas — In 2023, there were 20 people who died from crashes in Midland.
Before someone hits the road, Midland Police Department has an important message to give.
"Please, if you can, slow down," said Chane Blandford, a MPD officer with the Crime Prevention Unit.
The city has grown a lot in the past five years which means more drivers, and more traffic on the roads.
"Our limits are expanding," Blandford said. "Therefore there are more people that are traveling on those roadways, there are more houses that are along those roadways and apartments on the roadways."
To ensure Midland roads stay safe, MPD is increasing traffic stops.
The biggest hotspots for traffic and accidents are Wall St., West Wadley Ave., Midland Dr., Midkiff Rd., Garfield St. and Andrews Highway.
Blandford explained that a lot of those interactions clear over thousands of vehicles in one day which is a very high volume.
Unfortunately, not all drivers like to follow the law.
Not only can that lead to annoying and expensive trips to the body shop, it can also be a difference between life and death.
It is an important topic to keep in mind with school starting back up for kids in August.
Blandford said once the department has a good handle on the major roadways and major intersections, the plan is to initiate that same protocol with areas that have school zones.
"That's the last thing you want to do is to strike a child," Blandford said. "That is something you can never get rid of in your mind, and that's the last thing you ever want to do."
That is also why it is important to slow down in the school zones, obey the laws, put down the phone and pay attention.
With more officers patrolling the streets, MPD hopes to change the influx of traffic accidents.
"There have been people that realize when they get pulled over and they've stated, 'Man, if I knew you were there, I never would have done this,'" Blandford said. "So, that's one of the reasons why we are really pushing to get people out there. We've got officers that are working overtime that are out and about and focusing just on these major intersections."
Blandford also stated that, "just know it is a matter of time before you're going to get pulled over and you're going to get cited."