DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat UAPD's new traffic monitoring device sits on the UA Mall at East University Boulevard. Its data will help identify problem areas around campus.

Speed monitor will show drivers' speed; measure traffic flow

Motorists on campus might want to think twice when racing down the streets and avenues that cross the university.

A new device already popular in construction zones across Tucson has finally made it to the UA to help curb speeding.

The speed-monitoring device, which consists of a radar gun and a large flashing billboard not only tells motorists how fast they're traveling, but also collects data.

University of Arizona Police Department Sgt. Mike Smith said the data could be used to help identify problem areas around campus.

"It's really an educational tool. It helps people know what the speed is," Smith said.

UAPD Cmdr. Kevin Haywood said Traffic Enforcement Officer Jason Brei initially expressed the need for the device. He said the device would start the crackdown on campus speeding, which in turn would lessen vehicle collisions and crashes.

"I was just at an accident the other day, which could have been prevented by speed. One person didn't see the other," Brei said. "Its also a problem with so many pedestrians out there."

While Smith said UAPD is also trying to crack down on other traffic offenses across campus, speeding was a top priority.

Brei added that the majority of collisions and crashes he has seen on campus could have been avoided if one or both of the drivers weren't speeding.

Brei said the device was a gift from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, who could not be reached for comment.

Smith said the only thing UAPD will be pay for is regular maintenance.

"We just gave it a bath, and now its ready to go," Smith said to Haywood as he and Brei were setting up the machine on East University Boulevard and North Cherry Avenue.

The device also has rubber strips that go across the roadway that can monitor traffic flow in the areas where the device has been posted. While the device won't be able to give evidence for a citation, data that shows speed as a problem in the posted area will be better patrolled.

"And you never know. An officer could be right behind the machine checking speed," Smith said.

The device won't simply be confined to the campus, either, Smith said. Motorists could see the flashing yellowish-green lights telling them their speed anywhere around town where UAPD normally patrols.

While the device may be the first on campus, UAPD has stepped up patrols on speeding violations in the past. A crackdown in 1994 focused on speeding in parking garages, threatening points on the driver licenses of those who raced through. The stiffer penalties were written into the Parking and Transportation Services' regulations as grounds for reckless driving violations.

Haywood said UAPD regularly receives complaints about problem areas for speeding and would like to hear more from the public on areas it believes might need the new device. Anyone wishing to report a problem area can call 626-0321.