GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. -- There have been more than twenty car accidents on Grayson County roads in six months. At least two of those accidents were fatal. Now county leaders are stepping in, hoping to help save lives on those roads.

Commissioners say they get several calls a day from concerned residents, reporting drivers speeding at more than eighty miles an hour on county roads and not enough law enforcement to catch them.

County commissioners voted 3-to-1 one to pay for an additional deputy. The new position will cost about $100,000, money which will come out of the county's general fund.

Now officials say there are not enough law enforcement officers to enforce the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit on county roads, so they're hiring the new deputy for increased presence in those areas.

Resident Mike Colucci says with all the recent accidents, it's much needed help.

“I think overall it can't hurt. I think with the increased presence, it will be on the minds of people, not just the young kids… people driving too fast on those roads.”

Grayson County Sheriff Keith Gary says, “I’ve already heard some criticism. One officer is not man with 940 square miles, but what we'll try to do is hit hot spots, we'll move that officer around the county, and hopefully people will get the message and start driving more sanely on county roads .”

Sheriff Gary says the new deputy will be hired for a one-year trial period. If after that year county leaders feel the extra patrols have made a difference, the position will become permanent.