ELKHART CO. — Elkhart County police are paying closer attention to local roads. They're hoping to cut down on the number of deadly accidents. If you think you know the rules of the road, police warn you might want to make sure you're following them.

WSBT cameras were rolling at a simple two-way stop in Elkhart County as car after car rolled through.

"They're trying to drive correctly but they get in a hurry," explained Elkhart County Police Capt. Sean Holmes. "They don't pay attention. They pull up to stop signs and they think they stop. It's about perspective."

Most drivers are in too much of a hurry to notice the small cross sitting at the intersection of County Road 11 and County Road 30. But it represents the stark reality of the county-wide traffic problem.

Capt. Holmes said historically, Elkhart County sees between 30 and 50 traffic fatalities every year. Last year there were 49.

Many of them happened at intersections.

"They pull out and before they know it there's a car on top of them," said Holmes. "And then you've got to make a choice: either go or stop. And a lot of times they don't have time and they get hit."

Many of those drivers are breaking the law. At any stop sign, drivers are required to come to a complete stop and proceed with caution. Holmes said a complete stop means tires aren't moving and the speedometer is at zero.

In the coming weeks, you can expect to see anywhere from 5 to 20 extra officers on the roads, reminding drivers about speed limits and complete stops.

The Fatal Crash Reduction Enforcement grant that funds this extra enforcement is also part of increased patrols in construction zones and along school bus routes.