“Our goal is to prevent speeding on the Beltline to ensure it remains safe for all drivers,” State Patrol Superintendent Timothy Carnahan said in a statement. “Over the past few months, we have deployed more patrol officers on the Beltline. The deployment of the Air Support Unit simply gives us an extra pair of eyes when we are on the lookout for dangerous driving.”

The State Patrol said motorists should move to the right side of the road when stopped by police, and that on the Beltline, no one should stop in the Flex Lane, even if it is closed. If there is no safe place to stop immediately, move to the right lane, turn on your hazard lights and reduce your speed to signal to police that you are aware of their presence until you reach the next safe area where you can stop your vehicle.

The speed limit on the Beltline is 55 miles per hour.

The State Patrol said many aerial surveillance operations are publicly announced to underscore their goal of improving safety through voluntary compliance with traffic laws, not just stopping or fining drivers.

From the air, it’s much easier to spot speeding or aggressive drivers, the State Patrol said. The planes use a timing device called VASCAR (Visual Average Speed ​​Computer and Recorder) as well as highway markings to determine vehicle speed. When pilots spot speeding, aggressive or reckless drivers, they contact State Patrol vehicles to initiate a traffic stop.

The State Patrol said it analyzes traffic violation data, accident reports and similar information to identify highway corridors for enforcement, and the costs of these efforts are often funded by federal grants.