The City of Mason recently purchased a new public information tool for helping maintain traffic safety throughout the City.   A SpeedCheck, speed radar trailer has been purchased from the Information Display Company of Beaverton Oregon.  The radar unit monitors the speed of oncoming automobile traffic and reports it to the driver as a warning to slow down.  The unit is also capable of performing traffic counts for identifying problem areas and to assist in traffic planning throughout the city.    

A data collection option was also purchased as part of the trailer package to capture and download vehicle count and speed data.  Each target vehicle is dated and time stamped recording average speeds, 85^th percentile speeds, total numbers, and moving averages.  The data is then downloaded with a Palm-handheld computer (PDA) remotely so wire attachments and laptop computers are not needed.  The PDA is then taken to and downloaded into a PC in an Excel format.  The data is then stored and can be extracted in a variety of charts and graphs. 

As a public information tool, the trailer will inform motorists of their speeds in certain areas of the city were traffic perhaps has a tendency to move faster than the posted speed limits.  Areas such as heavily traveled roads entering the city or road ways leaving the city which may appear rural and less populated causing drivers to believe they can drive faster.  The trailer will also help educate drivers in school zones and parks to drive within the legal limits.

Traffic violators need to be aware however, just because the trailer is there to educate and warn speeders, it doesn’t mean a police officer is not close by to enforce the law too. 
 

Police Department
201 West Ash Street
Emergency 911
Business: 517.676.2458