New Speed-Measuring Device Launched

With the increase in vehicle, foot and bicycle traffic on and around campus, the Department of Public Safety is taking a proactive approach to road safety. As part of the department's ongoing traffic safety campaign, police officers are using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to help reduce dangerous driving. LIDAR is a laser device that measures the speed of a vehicle, its distance away and which direction it's moving.

The goal is to reduce the number of accidents. Since 2011, UC Merced police officers and/or the California Highway Patrol have responded to 60 traffic accidents on or near campus. Many could have been prevented if the drivers had followed the posted speed limit signs. Nationally, 31 percent of all motor vehicle crashes are caused by speeding, killing more than 10,000 people annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.