AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Austin police are set to begin using drones to help them investigate fatal traffic accidents.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that the use of drones will cut down the time officers spend gathering evidence by as much as 80 percent.
Austin police are set to hold several hearings over the next two weeks to inform the public about how the drones will be used.
Police Lt. Blake Johnson says current investigations of fatal traffic accidents can often take up to three hours to complete.
Johnson says drones can cut that time down to 15 minutes.
Police say drones will also improve safety for officers investigating such accidents.
Critics of the technology have raised privacy concerns.
But Johnson says the drones will only be used to investigate traffic crash scenes.
