GREENWOOD, Ind. — It's one of the two main highways running north and south through the heart of Greenwood.
Now, however, residents say speeding, reckless driving and racing are taking over U.S. 31.
Greenwood Police Ofc. Jason Grable said it's not a new problem, but it is a noticeable one.
"U.S. 31 has some long stretches in between stoplights that are very popular for the young people to run a little hotter than they should," Grable said.
The dangerous driving, as residents call it, isn't on every block.
"Look across the street," Grable said. "There are two lanes with 30 feet between each car. You can't speed over there."
But when the time is right, Grable said people take advantage of the open road.
"A longer light and a longer stretch in between lights gives them an opportunity for greater speed," Grable said.
It's not just Greenwood police who have noticed the problems.
One resident called U.S. 31 a "dragstrip."
Another man, who said he lives around the corner from the highway, said he can hear the commotion every Saturday night.
"The Mustangs and the Camaros and the Challengers and Chargers," he said. "Yeah, they race through here."
"I'm sure they are frustrated, just as we are," Grable said. "Our men and women have conducted 985 directed patrols."
That total is for 2024 so far. Directed patrols are when officers sit and monitor traffic in hot spots across the city.
So far this year, compared to 2023, Grable said traffic stops are down across the city. From January to Aug. 31, he said there were 7,693 stops in 2023 and 7,643 in 2024.
"We cannot catch them all, but we catch all that we can," Grable said.
Greenwood police also shared tips for residents and commuters to make their daily drives safer.
"You have to be extra aware, and make sure to use that signal very early," Grable said.
Plus, don't hesitate to call police, he said.
"If somebody observes a vehicle driving in a manner which is reckless and dangerous, absolutely (call)," Grable said.
"That's why we have a dragstrip," one resident said. "That's where you're supposed to be doing this. Not doing it on 31."