BEND, Ore. -- The latest Multi-Agency Traffic (MAT) team saturation patrol held Tuesday on Highway 97 was a successful endeavor designed to improve traffic safety awareness.

In just five short hours on the busy highway between Lava Butte and Terrebonne, 186 speeders, drivers failing to maintain a safe distance from emergency vehicles, and drivers violating any other safety regulation were issued tickets or given warnings, Bend Police Sgt. Kurt Koester said.

50 were ticketed, 136 warned and one vehicle was impounded between noon and 5 p.m. on March 11, the sergeant reported.