In an effort that stretches 2,900 miles across the continental U.S., law enforcement officers in 11 states are focusing on preventing traffic deaths along I-80 throughout the remainder of July – typically one of the deadliest periods of the year on the busy route.

The I-80 Challenge was conceived by Patrick Hoye, chief of the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety department. State police in California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey will be participating.

Iowa Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lieutenant Robert Hansen said each of the 11 states are assigning more troopers to I-80 during the 8-day period. They’ll be focusing on speeding, impaired driving and seat belt use.

Signs placed along I-80 will help raise public awareness about the campaign, whose slogan is: “More Cops, More Stops.”

According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHTSA), there were 350 fatalities along I-80 from 2009-2011. During a ten year period, there was an average of five accidents per day on the 300 miles of I-80 which run through Iowa.