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Week eight could be critical to season
10/12/2008 8:46 PM
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Bendabout downs Goose Creek 14-12
10/12/2008 8:46 PM
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Spurrier continues mastery of Kentucky's Wildcats
10/11/2008 5:18 PM
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Community members help South Aiken get on track
10/11/2008 5:17 PM
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Diaz looks to lead Team Mexico in World Amateur Team Championship
10/11/2008 5:17 PM
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The Great Debate: Cam Huffman's take on whether Will Korn or Stephen Garcia will be the better college QB
10/11/2008 2:49 PM
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Great Debate: Mac Banks' take on whether Will Korn or Stephen Garcia will be the better college QB
10/11/2008 3:04 PM
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Great Debate: Kenton Makin's take on whether Willy Korn or Stephen Garcia will be a better college QB
10/11/2008 4:03 PM
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Pony Express wins
10/11/2008 7:29 PM
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Palazzo's pupils shine
10/11/2008 7:29 PM
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Saturday's scoreboard
10/11/2008 8:39 PM
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Sunday's Sports on TV
10/11/2008 8:39 PM
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Williston-Elko 64, Ridge Spring-Monetta 6
10/10/2008 9:19 PM
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Predators win in 4 OTs
10/10/2008 9:58 PM
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Friday's scoreboard
10/10/2008 10:14 PM
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Saturday's Sports on TV
10/10/2008 10:15 PM
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Friday's prep football scores
10/10/2008 9:58 PM
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Derry Heir defeats Buckleigh in overtime of wild polo game
10/10/2008 7:22 PM
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Aiken Fall Classic primed for weekend
10/10/2008 7:22 PM
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Derry Heir defeats Buckleigh
in overtime of wild polo game
10/10/2008 7:26 PM
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High school football previews
10/9/2008 7:18 PM
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Goose Creek rolls past Brigadoon in Silver Cup
10/9/2008 7:11 PM
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At the races
10/9/2008 9:02 PM
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North Augusta games to be carried on the web
10/9/2008 7:17 PM
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Local results
10/9/2008 9:02 PM
HEAT officers maintain highly visible profile
5/8/2008 11:24 PM
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By KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
The officers in the black Dodge Chargers seem to be just about everywhere.
"I don't go out in town without someone mentioning those Chargers," said Sgt. Jake Mahoney, a spokesperson for Aiken Public Safety. "That's the intent - they don't blend in."
The two Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) officers hit the streets of Aiken in mid-January, partially in response to the lives claimed on area roadways the previous year and the success dedicated traffic teams have had curbing fatalities statewide.
Aiken Public Safety applied for a three-year grant from the S.C. Office of Highway Safety and last spring was awarded the money at an 80 percent state and 20 percent city match split. South Carolina will provide about $194,000. The City of Aiken will budget the remainder.
"Having two readily identifiable units has increased the public's awareness, and we hope people will realize how serious we are about traffic enforcement and reducing the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities on our roadways," he said.
The officers are averaging 400 traffic citations a month and an additional 110 warnings.
"The big thing we are seeing is the reduction of crashes in intersections that before reported a high number of accidents," Mahoney said.
Using the intersection at Dougherty and Whiskey roads as an example, Mahoney said the number of crashes there dropped significantly last month.
Before the HEAT officers began patrols, seven crashes were reported at that intersection in December, which Mahoney said is admittedly in part because of heavy holiday traffic. Then in January that number dropped to four, in February three and in March there were four crashes.
"Last month we didn't have any," he said. "We are hoping to repeat that."
The majority of crashes at that intersection have been because of driver inattention or following too closely.
"That's the behavior these officers are looking for," he said.
They are also looking for speeding motorists and those not wearing seat belts. These factors weigh heavily on whether a person will survive a crash, police say.
The team is almost strictly dedicated to traffic enforcement, but the two officers also play a role educating the public.
Since January, the officers have talked with students and local civic groups in the hopes of changing driving behaviors.
The HEAT officers have also been highly visible during local events - especially those involving alcohol.
On the day of the Steeplechase, Officer Chris Carter issued 43 citations.
Mahoney said the two were also patrolling heavily during the proms and the Lobster Race.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
5/8/2008 11:24 PM
0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friendBy KAREN DAILY
Staff writer
The officers in the black Dodge Chargers seem to be just about everywhere.
"I don't go out in town without someone mentioning those Chargers," said Sgt. Jake Mahoney, a spokesperson for Aiken Public Safety. "That's the intent - they don't blend in."
The two Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) officers hit the streets of Aiken in mid-January, partially in response to the lives claimed on area roadways the previous year and the success dedicated traffic teams have had curbing fatalities statewide.
Aiken Public Safety applied for a three-year grant from the S.C. Office of Highway Safety and last spring was awarded the money at an 80 percent state and 20 percent city match split. South Carolina will provide about $194,000. The City of Aiken will budget the remainder.
"Having two readily identifiable units has increased the public's awareness, and we hope people will realize how serious we are about traffic enforcement and reducing the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities on our roadways," he said.
The officers are averaging 400 traffic citations a month and an additional 110 warnings.
"The big thing we are seeing is the reduction of crashes in intersections that before reported a high number of accidents," Mahoney said.
Using the intersection at Dougherty and Whiskey roads as an example, Mahoney said the number of crashes there dropped significantly last month.
Before the HEAT officers began patrols, seven crashes were reported at that intersection in December, which Mahoney said is admittedly in part because of heavy holiday traffic. Then in January that number dropped to four, in February three and in March there were four crashes.
"Last month we didn't have any," he said. "We are hoping to repeat that."
The majority of crashes at that intersection have been because of driver inattention or following too closely.
"That's the behavior these officers are looking for," he said.
They are also looking for speeding motorists and those not wearing seat belts. These factors weigh heavily on whether a person will survive a crash, police say.
The team is almost strictly dedicated to traffic enforcement, but the two officers also play a role educating the public.
Since January, the officers have talked with students and local civic groups in the hopes of changing driving behaviors.
The HEAT officers have also been highly visible during local events - especially those involving alcohol.
On the day of the Steeplechase, Officer Chris Carter issued 43 citations.
Mahoney said the two were also patrolling heavily during the proms and the Lobster Race.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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