Wednesday is National Speed Awareness Day and local authorities are offering messages on the dangers of speeding on roadways.

Piatt County Sheriff Mark Vogelzang says around a third of all motor vehicle fatalities can be attributed to speeding. Locally he says speeding has been a component of many serious traffic crashes.

According to Sheriff, deaths grew in 2021 due to speeding and he believes that is because there has been less emphasis on traffic enforcement on the roadways.

Rural driving can be particularly treacherous, especially in rural areas. Sheriff Vogelzang indicates twisting and hilly terrain along with crops at their full height can make visibility limited.

Distracted driving is becoming a bigger issue in recent years. Sheriff Vogelzang says distracted driving isn't always about attention being paid to a cell device but about other people in the vehicle or eating and driving among other distractions behind the wheel.