After spending ten years making a living as a journalist, taking 28 years off, and then returning to reporting here in Fishers nearly 14 years ago, not much surprises me these days. Still, every once in a while, the reaction to a story I post manages to raise an eyebrow or two.

This past Wednesday, the Fishers Police Department shared a social media post about a targeted traffic enforcement effort along Olio Road between 116th and 126th Streets. Between noon and 4 p.m. 15 officers conducted a concentrated patrol focused on traffic violations. In that four-hour period, officers made 120 traffic stops.

The department noted that the good news was most drivers were following the rules of the road—especially the speed limit. That’s an important message for this particular stretch, which includes three Hamilton Southeastern School buildings: HSE High School, Fall Creek Junior High, and Fall Creek Intermediate.

Earlier in the day, social media was already buzzing with posts warning drivers about the police presence in that area. The online chatter was significant, and when I published a story about the enforcement effort based on the department’s announcement, the reaction was remarkable. The article quickly became one of the most-read stories on LarryInFishers.com this year.

Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising. Traffic safety touches nearly everyone in Fishers. I often hear from residents who say driving the speed limit—or even slightly above it—can feel risky because so many others are moving even faster.

Fishers Police have consistently told me that reducing speed and improving safety on city streets is a priority. I see officers pulling over drivers nearly every day, but there’s only so much they can do with limited personnel and resources.

This latest enforcement effort serves as a reminder that speed contributes to many crashes, including those that cause serious injuries. Slowing down, especially in areas near schools and neighborhoods, makes all of us safer.

I doubt this Olio Road operation will be the last focused patrol we see from local police. Targeted enforcement in high-traffic areas will likely continue—and that’s a good reminder for all of us that speed limits are posted for a reason.