Police put eye in the sky to track traffic infractions.

Police are using aircraft to track speeders in an effort to reduce fatalities on the province's highways. Kevin Fleming explains.

Colleen Schmidt, CTV Calgary

RCMP and sheriffs in the province are utilizing the Aircraft Enforcement Program in an effort to increase safety on high risk highways in the province.
 
Integrated Traffic Units in Alberta use aircraft enforcement to try and reduce fatal and serious injury collisions on Alberta highways.
 
The RCMP helicopter is used during the operations and officers are on the lookout for speeders, impaired drivers and drivers that follow too close or pass when unsafe.

The traffic enforcement method is used to identify speeders and other offenders.
 
The Aircraft Traffic Enforcement program was started in Alberta using RCMP aircraft in 1968 but was suspended in the 80s.
 
It was reintroduced later that decade using private aircraft but the initiative proved to be too costly to continue.
 
The program was brought back in phases and was reintroduced on the Trans-Canada Highway between Calgary and B.C. in 2009.
 
Alberta Transportation revived the program and expanded patrols across the province in 2013.
 
The aerial operation allows officers to observe multiple violators and offences over a longer distance compared to traditional traffic enforcement options.
 
Officers use a stop watch to time an offender over surveyed and certified 500 metre distances. The less time it takes the vehicle to pass through the zone, the faster the vehicle is going.
 
There are currently 25 trained aircraft observers in the province made up of RCMP members and sheriffs.