Washington State Patrol is running extra traffic enforcement on I-5 and I-90, using location and behavior data collected from drivers' cell phones. This effort started June 16 and runs through July 31.
What's changing: Troopers are not tracking drivers live, but are using reports from Michelin Mobility Intelligence that show patterns of speeding, hard braking, and rapid acceleration to pick where and when to patrol.
- Targeted patrol areas include sections of I-5 between Murray Road and S 288th Street, and stretches of I-90 near Spokane.
- The data is supposed to flag high-risk stretches where crashes happen most, often due to aggressive driving.
How it works: Michelin Mobility Intelligence gathers about a million miles of driver data every day. Troopers are hoping this lets them focus on problem spots before crashes actually happen, according to National Review.
Why it matters: Many drivers are uneasy about the government buying private data to boost ticket-writing efforts. WSP says it won't see driver names or track movements in real time, but some see it as another step toward more surveillance on the roads.
These special patrols continue until July 31, after which the state will review if the data-driven approach really changes driver habits on the selected routes.