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ECSO Speed Enforcement On Highway 97 Goes High Tech, Data Driven
October 4, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing speed enforcement efforts on Highway 97, including the return of data-collecting speed detection trailers they were forced to quit using.
It’s all part of Sheriff Chip Simmons’ push to use technology and data to solve issues across the county, Chief Deputy Andrew Hobbs said recently.
The trailers display the speed limit and the speed of passing vehicles, complete with small flashing red and blue LED lights to attract driver attention. But there’s much more going on, Hobbs said. The trailers collect data including the speed and direction of passing traffic, allowing the ECSO to concentrate enforcement efforts during the time periods needed.
“We are not just sending deputies out there, we are sending them out there during the time when the traffic violations are occurring and maximizing manpower,” the chief deputy said. “Sometimes drivers are not really speeding, but they are crossing over the centerlines and making other traffic flow violations. We look at what’s going on in an area.”
The ECSO was forced at one time to remove the speed detection trailers from the right-of-ways on state roads, but that issue has been solved and the ECSO trailers have returned to state roads. Hobbs credited new Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin, for making contact with FDOT to facilitate action on the issue.
“We are once again partnering with FDOT on these trailers we were unable to use before, and we are able to do as much as we can with the resources we have,” he said.
In addition to deputies that work in the local precincts, the chief deputy said the ECSO Traffic Unit is periodically patrolling Highway 97 from Highway 29 in Molino to the Alabama state line in Davisville.
Highway 97 has been the site of numerous serious traffic crashes and fatalities. A fatality occurred just before 7 a.m. on September 12 on Highway 97, and a two-vehicle crash about an hour later, and about 3.5 miles south on Highway 97, injured two people. There was also a five-vehicle wreck with multiple injuries that occurred in August on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “ECSO Speed Enforcement On Highway 97 Goes High Tech, Data Driven”
Most motorists are prudent but they want to get where they are going. If speeding is common on 97, I would suggest the speed limit itself is the problem. Why is 97 still posted at 55? Did the Florida Department of Transportation conduct a proper traffic engineering study to justify it? The most democratic way to set speed limits is to let motorists set them by their conduct. Traffic engineers have long advocated using the 85th percentile method, i. e., determining the speed at or below which 85 out of 100 vehicles are moving then setting the limit as close to this number as possible. The assumption is 15% of motorists will travel faster than reasonable. The safety fanatics and anti-car zealots are waging war against this practice. Motorists exceeding 55 on 97 need to speak up in defense of their conduct or stop their speeding.
Why no put a camera on the speed trailers then you have 24/7 monitoring, a decrease in staffing requirements, and an income stream.
They need to put one on 97 straight away around Mason rd and Tungoil rd. People drive so fast in that area and dangerously passing. Motorcycles drive a good 70 plus. The school bus stops and people are driving so fast they don’t even stop when the bus does. I’m glad they are doing something, but there are other areas of the highway that need to be monitored as well. Placing one on 97 and Mason rd would show just how fast they drive on that straight away.
At this point, when safety becomes a major issue Speed Cameras resulting in tickets needs to be introduced.
To thankful: If you are going to do the speed limit God bless you. Set your cruise control on 55 mph. But don’t. Antagonize people by slowing down to 45 mph that is just adding to the problems on highway 97.Don’t be a part of the problem.
I’m glad to see these back around. The only issue is to catch someone on 97 speeding and or crossing over a solid line police will have to be there all day and all night. Because people do this all of the time no matter what time of day. It is so unfortunate that people do not care about safety of others or their safety. Sad,sad times. But thank you law officers for doing g your best to help protect us all.
Please sheriff, deployed a couple on 297A . Traffic jams , unofficial race track on off hours and several fatalities in the last few years . Several of those trailers would be great but even better deployed LEOS. Patrol cars used to park near my home and it made a difference . I’m sure it could also be revenue for the county and safer for residents . Trying to turned into 297A it’s super dangerous when vehicles are coming at 60 plus miles per hour .
Great ideal to slow things down in areas needed,so what are the trailers on side of the road at St.Regis then are they camera trailers as well. Seen a few at a couple of gas stations. If the sheriff is going all robocop atleast tell us what they do.
Low & behold someone is listening. Many of the residents know there’s a problem & are sick of it, others don’t care like the ones using this hwy for a racetrack. To many people using Hwy 97 know there’s little LE presence on the road & drive at the speed they choose. For those of us driving the speed limit we’re an obstacle, we’re in their way. Cars line up behind you itching for the first opening to pass & they don’t care what danger they present to others. Some crowd you from behind so close you can see the color of their eyes in the rear view mirror. As if they’re gonna force you to speed up. The whole world is in a hurry so get the h**l outta my way is the attitude. Well I got news for some, the closer you get to my bumper the slower I’m gonna travel. Don’t like it call the law.