Watch your speed on the road to the Valley

State Route 347 became the first state highway to have photo radar when a new Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) program was launched. In partnership with Redflex Traffic Systems, DPS is placing a number of photo enforcement vehicles along Arizona highways identified as high collision areas in which speed is a factor.

It is not a surprise to many Maricopans that SR 347 is atop the list “earning” the first deployed unit.

“We have stationed a camera there because of the high rate of collisions there,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.

DPS will not announce the location of the photo enforcement vehicles in advance, but there will be a warning sign placed 300 feet before the DPS vehicle in both directions.

The mobile units are not designed to replace any DPS highway patrol officers, according to Roger Vanderpool, DPS director.

“This is simply a tool DPS will use to provide the public with additional safety while driving,” Vanderpool said.

“In many cases, highway collisions are caused by speed and the failure of drivers to control their vehicle. This program is designed to help reduce these kinds of highly preventable collisions.”