City speed monitors to educate, prevent

A radar unit located inside the trailer produces the speed on the monitor so drivers can see how fast they’re going.

Maybe you’ve seen them around town? The three monitors that display drivers’ speed.

Lt. Steve Wilkerson with the Madison Police Department said the purpose for the speed monitors is to serve as an educational tool so drivers can be informed of their own speed without police interference.

“It gives drivers the opportunity to see how fast they’re going, and if they’re over the limit, they’re able to slow down without [police] slowing them down and issuing a ticket. It’s supposed to make citizens more mindful of driving habits.”

A radar unit located inside the trailer produces the speed on the monitor so drivers can see how fast they’re going.

The only data the monitors will store will be the number of cars that pass and those cars’ speed limits. Wilkerson said the devices do not store license plates numbers or car descriptions.

He said the department moves the monitors to different locations within the city every week.

“We’re trying not to cost people money,” he said. “We’re trying to get them to slow down. We hope people will pay attention to them as a deterrent. It’s for their safety.”