Traffic Safety Initiatives Archives

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Police Chief Magazine|Columns|Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: A Case for Young Driver Training Law

In November 2018, a teenage novice driver speeds toward a blind intersection in Los Angeles, California, distracted by the other teens partying in the car with her. A second car enters the intersection to turn left. Crash! And not just any crash. The second car is driven by Nora—a teenager who is well known in … Continue reading Traffic Safety Initiatives: A Case for Young Driver Training Law

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Reducing Struck-By Incidents and Recreating a Culture of Safety

Since 2015, the Colorado State Patrol experienced five tragic losses resulting from struck-by incidents. In May 2015, a trooper and cadet trooper were investigating a previous crash when a suspect bei...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: When Traffic Stops Turn Fatal

Traffic stops represent a significant portion of law enforcement interactions with the public. Despite technological and procedural advancements, the unpredictability of encounters can pose substantia...

Traffic Safety

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Cross-Training for Justice Partners

When prosecutors understand the specifics of how a drug recognition expert (DRE) conducts an evaluation, the prosecutor will be able to better understand the evidence and elicit persuasive testimony i...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Enhancing Traffic Stop Safety

While traffic stops are a routine part of a police officer’s duties, each stop carries risks to the officer, whether from the violator, vehicle passengers, or surrounding traffic. According to th...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: The Pedestrian Problem in Maryland

In 2018, in Maryland, 131 pedestrians lost their lives as a result of a motor vehicle crash.1 Of those fatalities, about 20 percent were in Baltimore County.2 When any five-year trend was considere...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Misdemeanor Murder

At 3:00 a.m., a call comes through signaling trouble. The ranking officer reports a fatal collision with additional serious injuries to a family from out of state. The at-fault driver, also injured, a...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Strategies for Prevention

Police know firsthand about the dismal safety record of U.S. roadways, especially the skyrocketing death and injury toll in recent years. It compels an immediate need for discussion and action. In ...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: Why Agencies Need Traffic Safety Units

Supervisors in traffic enforcement units strive to have the finest officers; the best, cutting-edge equipment; up-to-date training courses or conferences; and novel methods of traffic enforcement....

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: No Results? No Problem!

In both alcohol- and drug-impaired driving cases, the blood or breath results are crucial pieces of evidence. A high blood alcohol content result in a DUI alcohol case can just about prove the case by...

Traffic Safety Initiatives

Traffic Safety Initiatives: MADD Impaired Driving Toolkit

Drivers impaired by alcohol and other drugs have been, and continue to be, a major highway and public safety problem. In 2021, there were 42,939 traffic fatalities, the most in any year since 2005. Of...