Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies hope increased enforcement on Interstate 24 will reduce the number of road rage situations and save lives this year, a sheriff’s sergeant said.

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh directed sheriff’s deputies to concentrate on problem areas of the interstate to reduce both the traffic deaths and road rage cases, said Sgt. Michael Rodgers.

Rodgers said deputies will concentrate on prime commuting times.

“We are stepping up our presence on problem areas of the interstate,” Rodgers said. “We hope being an increased presence in high traffic times will influence people to drive more carefully.”

Rodgers recently encountered two drivers who were drag racing and weaving in and out of traffic on I-24 from the La Vergne area toward Murfreesboro. One driver drove a Subaru WRX and the second driver drove a yellow GTO Pontiac. Radar clocked them at 93 mph.

State law allows the seizure of the vehicle and the loss of a driver’s license for drivers convicted of drag racing.