The Desk Trooper program received Florida TaxWatch’s 2025 Government Productivity Award.
A joint highway safety initiative of the Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Florida Highway Patrol was recently recognized for efficiency and increased highway safety by Florida TaxWatch.
Within the first year, the Desk Trooper program reduced the time it takes the highway patrol to clear a minor crash from hours to minutes, according to a news release. The assistance program uses virtual technology that enables troopers to remotely connect to people affected by minor car incidents to provide documentation and damage assessments.
“It is a privilege to partner with such an exceptional team at the Florida Highway Patrol to implement this transformative technology together for our drivers,” said Michelle Maikisch, executive director of Central Florida Expressway Authority. “With a busy holiday travel season right around the corner, the Desk Trooper pilot program ensures traffic on our system moves safely and efficiently.”
The program, which aims at “reducing roadside risk and minimizing disruptions for motorists across CFX’s five-county system and statewide,” has helped more than 750 minor-collision victims since the program’s launch in November 2024. Crashes have an average clearance time of 24 minutes with the program.
Drivers can call *FHP (*347) after a traffic incident to be remotely connected to a trooper, allowing resources to be directed toward more severe incidents. To learn more about the program and its resources, visit CFXWay.com.