Ann Sweet's dedication to safety is as strong as ever, and the eight years following her daughter's death only encourages her towards the goal of nationwide traffic security.

On Oct. 27, 1997, Shawnee Ulrey, Sweet's daughter, was struck and killed by a semi tractor/trailer at a U.S. 30 intersection. According to witness reports, the driver of the semi disregarded a red light at the intersection before the fatal collision took place. One witness said that no brake lights flashed as the semi approached the traffic light.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop red light running in the county and everywhere else," Sweet said. "There's no way, as long as I live, that I'll let what happened to my daughter rest."

The seven miles of U.S. 30 highway inside Warsaw city limits is ranked the second-highest thorough-fare in Indiana in regards to accident reports and traffic violations.

For the past six years, Sweet, the Warsaw Traffic Commission, Indiana Rep. Dave Wolkins and County Treasurer Kent Adams have continuously lobbied in front of state and national governing bodies requesting the use of cameras at intersections to monitor and enforce traffic regulations.

Monday, Sweet believes Warsaw was allowed to "take a step in the right direction."

With the permission of the Indiana Department of Transportation, two signs, customized specifically for Warsaw, were installed along U.S. 30 to inform drivers of a "target enforcement area." This event becomes the first effort INDOT has made in Indiana to identify highly patrolled highway sections.

The postings were placed to encourage drivers to obey speed limits and stop signs while also informing them of potential heightened police patrol zones.

INDOT will be conducting studies, both independently and in collaboration with the Warsaw Police Department, to register how the signs affect traffic along the stretch of highway in Warsaw. Accident reports, personal injury incidents and traffic violations all will be recorded.

"We look forward to cooperating with INDOT in providing any data that they will need," Warsaw Chief of Police Steve Foster said.

Sweet hopes the traffic numbers will encourage further action regarding the signs, and ideally wants the process to continue until photo-red cameras are used on highways for automatic enforcement.

Sweet knows the traffic numbers are important, but feels the emotion of each crash becomes "merely a number in an overall total."

"I once met a paramedic who told me that, 'statistics are just tragedies with the tears wiped away,'" Sweet said. "I hope that the numbers collected will be individually recognized for the emotional impact they had on particular family and friends."

The presence of the new signs come less than two weeks before "National Stop at Red Week" and also as local schools open again for the next academic year.

WPD reports of the 7-mile stretch of highway state 48 accidents occurred since the beginning of 2005. A report on speeding and red light running violations was not available.

Sweet said she appreciated the efforts of both WPD officers and state police to enforce U.S. 30, but knows there are limits to how much officers can enforce.

"The police are doing the very best they can, and they're putting their lives in danger by doing so," Sweet said. "That's why we encourage the automation surveillance. The cameras would allow for accountability 100 percent of the time."

Currently, 18 states use camera enforcement on highways, and many countries in Europe have used similar systems. Sweet hopes Indiana will soon comply.

"I applaud Ann for her diligence in this matter," Kent Adams, former Indiana senator, said. "Her leadership and dedication on the matter have been essential in our efforts."

Sweet says she will continue her endeavor to protect drivers from individuals who ignore traffic laws.

"At this point in time, we're still relying on people to voluntarily obey the laws with the new signs," Sweet said. "I hope someday we'll be given the opportunity to properly protect our citizens." [[In-content Ad]]