Monday, August 25, 2008

Sachse Police acquire “radar trailer” to discourage speeding

By Pegasus News wire

SACHSE — The Sachse Police Department added a piece of equipment to its arsenal that will help educate drivers and enforce speed laws. The police unveiled a Traffic Display Monitoring device, or a radar trailer, that will enhance speed-limit awareness and promote traffic safety.

Police Chief Dennis Veach states that the radar trailer contains an actual radar unit that measures the speed of oncoming vehicles and displays their speed on large LED panels. The driver may become aware of errors in their speedometer and/or can make adjustments in their driving behavior.

Veach said the unit will be a great benefit because it can be used in school zones and on residential streets for long periods of time and it does slow the traffic down. The trailer's first assignments will be streets where there have been numerous complaints of speeding.

The radar trailer is a capital item approved by the City Council in this year’s budget. It is battery operated, so it does need to be brought in daily for recharging, but also has a solar panel that helps keep it charged during sunlit days. The trailer will work year-round in a wide range of weather conditions.

Not only does the trailer display the speed of the approaching vehicles, it also records the various range of speeds on a data collector. That data can be downloaded and analyzed later for use in traffic studies. As shown in reports from other cities, the trailer will also allow the department to give additional attention to reported problem areas without committing additional manpower.

Sachse Police Department encourages citizens to call in speeding complaints as they have in the past. An officer will be sent or the radar trailer will be set up, whichever is available at the time.

Source: City of Sachse

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