Second traffic enforcement team-up this year conducted Wednesday in El Paso County

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- With last week's double fatality crash in mind, authorities stepped up traffic enforcement along Interstate 25 between the Douglas and Pueblo county lines.

Colorado Springs Police, El Paso County sheriff's deputies and the Colorado State Patrol began their patrols at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and were scheduled to end their duties at 3:30 p.m.

Authorities targeted drivers who speed, drive distracted -- while using smartphones, for example -- follow too closely and engage in other unsafe driving habits.

"Today, I've already stopped someone going 100 (mph) in a 75 (zone)," said Trooper Corey Cantrell. "They had an excuse that they were looking for their phone in their car and they didn't realize that they were going 100. So that's two very dangerous behaviors."

The specialized enforcement comes as El Paso County has the highest number of traffic-related deaths (60) in the state; two drivers died last Friday in a head-on crash on U.S. 24 near Calhan.

During the year's first team-up in April, authorities issued more than 300 citations.

But is this kind of effort working? And beyond driving safely, what else can we do to reduce unsafe driving?

"We're doing this because I-25 is where most of the crashes and drivers are," said Colorado Springs police Lt. Shannon Snuggs. "But we need to have conversations with our friends. Kids, have a conversation with Mom and Dad about why are you speeding? Let's slow down and go the speed limit. Let's be safe. And have those conversations at your dinner party. Bad driving habits put others in danger. We can't enforce our way out of this."

Authorities expect to have results of the increased enforcement by Wednesday evening.