Oklahoma Highway Patrol uses plane in crash reduction effort

MURRAY COUNTY, OK - Troopers in Oklahoma use the sky and the ground to catch drivers violating the law. 

 "The aircraft will circle an area from the air and monitor traffic for speeding, following too closely and improper lane changes," Trooper Jay Clary said.

We boarded a Cessna 182 with Trooper Jim Thompson Wednesday afternoon and with a little mathematics, were able to help troopers on the ground issue nearly thirty warnings and violations in two hours.

"We use half mile marks with stop watches and it's just time over distance," Thompson said. "We don't get them at their slowest speed you get them at an average through the half mile."

Fifty years ago, OHP was the first highway patrol in the nation to use aircraft speed law enforcement. Clary said they use this crash reduction effort monthly.

"Some drivers are surprised that we have an airplane out working traffic with us," Clary said. "Some of them know about it." 

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