In an effort to reduce speeding with a goal of preventing crashes and saving lives, Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) is piloting the Perch Patrol Program at two locations in the state. The sites were strategically chosen because they’re known for speeding issues, and one of the perch locations is on the east side of I-15 on Frontage Road in Draper. The second is in West Valley off I-215. 

“This was a program started in Nevada. They stationed a patrol car in key areas where they’d seen a high number of crashes resulting from speeding. The results were… a significant reduction in speed and a significant reduction in crashes. In Utah, knowing that speed is one of our top contributors to crashes, we wanted to see if we could replicate their success here,” said Sgt. Cameron Roden, Public Information Officer for UHP. 

Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) piloted the program several years ago, gathering data from six sites over a period of 203 days. The resulting statistics showed an 18% reduction in crashes and a 53% reduction in speeding compared to when no preventive activities were present. Perhaps the most significant statistic out of Nevada was that 91% of speeding drivers reduced their speed to comply with the legal limit when the preventive activities were present.

The NHP also projected the return on investment (ROI) of the project, estimating a $3 million savings in property damage, injuries and fatalities avoided as a result of the reduction of crashes caused by speed.

UDOT and UHP worked together on the pilot project. UDOT helped UHP select the sites where they could safely and prominently put a perch for a patrol car. UDOT built the platforms over the summer so UHP could start the pilot in September.

The premise of the Perch Pilot Program is simple; drivers will slow down when law enforcement is prominently placed and visible. UHP patrol cars will have their lights on to add to their visibility. “Lights on…is a reminder for drivers to check and adjust their speeds,” Roden said. 

According to Roden, it’s that self-awareness of speed that is the goal of the program, not issuing speeding tickets. “The desired outcome is not to write more citations, but for people to make adjustments for themselves. We also know there will be times where it will be necessary to couple with enforcement,” he said.

Once enough data is gathered from the Utah project, speed and crash data will be cross-analyzed with the perched vehicle times to determine if speeds and crashes have indeed been reduced. 

“Our overall objective is to remind drivers to watch their speeds… Reduction of speeds translates into saving lives,” Roden said. λ