By JESSA LEWIS
6 News Reporter
MADISONVILLE (WATE) - Madisonville police say their new speed-detecting camera has been effective so far, reducing the number of speeders.
Several fatal accidents on Madisonville roadways prompted the police department to take action, implementing a new camera in February to help catch speeders.
"[Drivers] do, they notice it. The signs are in each direction of the machine, and they really have slowed down. The traffic…the flow of traffic is greatly reduced, the speed," said Madisonville Patrol Officer Scott Watson.
He also moves the camera so people don't look for it in just one spot.
Drivers say it's worth being extra cautious, regardless of the camera, to see fewer fatalities on the roadways.
"In an area where it's congested and a lot of children are playing and riding their bikes. Of course here in Madisonville a lot of transportation is bicycles so I don't have a problem with it at all," said driver Tinsley Rider.
Madisonville officers say that in addition to issuing fewer speeding citations, it also seems like they've worked fewer wrecks within city limits. There have been no fatalities in the city since the camera system was implemented.
"I have got a lot of positive feedback," Watson said. "Before it was actually difficult to run the proper speed limit because the flow of traffic was so fast in areas. Now there are a lot of folks that come up daily and appreciate what we're doing. It has been positive in a lot of ways."
There's a little padding programmed into the camera's computer system, so drivers who are only going a few over the speed limit probably won't get a ticket.
Officer Scott Watson moves the camera so people don't look for it in just one spot.
