The latest edition of the I-80 Challenge, the coast-to-coast multi-agency high visibility traffic enforcement operation began its week-long run Wednesday.

The goal of the Challenge is to have no traffic deaths anywhere on Interstate 80…including its 455-miles through Nebraska…through next Wednesday.

Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Colonel David Sankey says most of the special enforcement activity in the summer is focused on holiday periods, while the I-80 Challenge is intended “to draw attention to the need for voluntary compliance of all traffic safety laws beyond those high visibility times.”

The State Patrol has a $15,500 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety to pay for the overtime costs of the special enforcement efforts, and safety messages will be displayed on the dynamic message boards along I-80 across the state throughout the eight days of the I-80 Challenge.

Nebraska recorded five fatal crashes on I-80 during the months of June, July & August. That compares with nine fatal interstate crashes during the same time period in 2011.