Law enforcement agencies statewide, including in Jefferson City, will launch a "blitz against speeding" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
So if you're looking to avoid a speeding ticket, we would advise you to lighten up on the gas pedal this weekend.
But if your goal is to avoid a wreck that could endanger the safety of you and others, we would advise you to make that change permanently.
The Jefferson City Police Department reports that excessive speed continues to be a leading contributor to motor vehicle crashes in Missouri.
JCPD says that increased vehicle speed lengthens the distances need to stop, to react to a situation and to swerve to avoid an accident.
And faster speeds increase the likelihood of serious or fatal injuries if an accident happens.
According to statistics provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Statistical Analysis Center, in 2014 there were 3,138 crashes with "speed-exceeded limit" listed as a contributing factor and 19,966 crashes with "too fast for conditions" listed as a contributing factor in the state.
This weekend's speed enforcement blitz is called "Obey the sign or pay a fine."
Similar crackdown efforts are occurring across the region in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma, the patrol said. Up and down the highways and roadways of these states in the country's midsection, officers will be ticketing anyone exceeding the speed limit.
Locally, officers will be utilizing RADAR and LiDAR to verify vehicle speeds.
The problem with speeding is that it reduces your reaction time to another vehicle or anything else in the roadway, including people, animals, bumps or curves in the road - even blown tires or other debris in the road. Speeding also increases the force of a crash, and often increases the likelihood of injury or death.
So keep the roads safe for you, your passengers and everyone else - obey the safety limits not only these few days of increased enforcement, but every day.