Speed Watch

Speed Watch is an educational program aimed at reducing incidents of speeding by raising public awareness of the actual speeds that drivers are traveling. Drivers get instant feedback of their speed from a radar trailer or other portable speed sign, displayed on a reader board as they pass. The Morrisville Police Department is also able to obtain driving information from those motorists that pass the mobile radar station through computerized data collection.

Benefits

Speed Watch helps address traffic and speeding problems through:

• Public and community awareness
• Gathering speed related data
• Police awareness

Speed Watch is a crime prevention program that creates a partnership between the police department and community, and that challenges community members to help address the issue of speeding in their neighborhood. It also:

• Provides data to police, schools, and communities regarding traffic flow problems, traffic speeds, and more
• Saves communities money through smart allocation of police enforcement
• Saves drivers money and inconvenience by avoiding speeding tickets

Information about the most Speed Watch activity at a specific location will be posted to the Police Department's website. Our goal is to use the data collected through Speed Watch to determine the right enforcement action in problematic areas to reduce speeding.

Radar Trailer and Speed Measuring Devices

The Morrisville Police Department purchased a radar trailer with grant money from the Governor's Highway Safety Program in 2003. The radar trailer has a directional sensing radar unit on board, which only displays the speeds of vehicles that are moving toward the trailer. The display is 25 inches wide, and it flashes when a car is traveling 5 mph or more over the posted speed limit. The trailer is also equipped with amber strobe lights on the side that activate when a vehicle is traveling 10 mph or more over the posted limit.

There is an additional onboard computer that collects data from the trailer, such as the highest, lowest, and median speeds measured during a trailer deployment. It is also capable of identifying which types of vehicles are traveling that particular roadway, such as cars, pickup trucks, tractor trailers, and so on. The Police Department uses this information to plan enforcement activities and to inform the public on the results when they request the trailer.

The Police Department also employs other means of speed data collection, including placing portable awareness devices in various locations around Town. Collectively, these valuable resources are used to clear complaints, increase public awareness, and broaden impact leads.

Other Traffic Safety Campaigns

The Morrisville Police Department actively participates in ongoing statewide and national campaigns that target high-risk driving violations. Examples of these well-publicized campaigns are Booze It & Lose It, No Need 2 Speed, Watch for Me -NC, and Click It or Ticket. Our agency also participates with the N.C. Highway Patrol during targeted enforcement, such as Operation Slow Down.

Our officers are on special alert for aggressive driving and other traffic violations during increased roadway travel during holidays and times of inclement weather, when roads are more dangerous.

Our ultimate goal in participating in these campaigns is the safety of residents and those who travel through Morrisville on our roadways. Drivers are reminded to obey all motor vehicle and traffic laws and are encouraged to allow extra travel time during rush hours or inclement weather. Call 911 to report aggressive driving or drunk drivers.