According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates, in 2021, 31,720 lives were lost on U.S. roadways from January 1 to September 30, an increase of approximately 12 percent from the 28,325 fatalities projected for the first nine months of 2020.

This startling number represents the highest number of fatalities during the first nine months of any year since 2006 and the highest percentage increase in the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

One of the responsibilities of law enforcement is to enforce traffic laws, like speed limits and seat belt mandates, to ensure the safety of community members, but the enforcement of these laws can sometimes lead to community mistrust instead of community engagement in road safety.

In January 2022, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and NHTSA released a series of five videos aimed at demonstrating how law enforcement agencies can prioritize traffic safety and promote community engagement to help agencies across the globe improve the quality of life for all while out on the roadways. The Traffic Safety Videos Series highlights five police departments in the United States. The agencies spotlighted are located in Alexandria, Virginia; Donalsonville, Georgia; Harrisonville, Missouri; Hopkins, Minnesota; and Round Rock, Texas. Each department uses its own unique strategies that have proven to be effective and engaging in addressing traffic safety challenges and concerns in each jurisdiction.

These agencies’ approaches to addressing traffic safety in their communities can be replicated in other departments, regardless of size.

Alexandria Police Department

Traffic safety is considered a critical component to the quality of life in Alexandria, Virginia. The city’s dense population of 150,000 residents living in a small 15-square-mile area has caused congestion on its streets and safety concerns among residents and visitors. Street congestion worsens during morning and evening commutes, often resulting in serious crashes and fatalities. The City of Alexandria Police Department created the Traffic Safety Section, which works closely with other city departments and community groups to promote safe travel and to reduce the severity of the traffic issues in the city. One of the department’s most unique creations is “traffic gardens,” spaces that depict miniature neighborhoods made up of small but realistic-looking streets, intersections, and crosswalks. Officers use these traffic gardens to teach bike and pedestrian safety to children.

Donalsonville Police Department

In the small, rural community of Donalsonville, Georgia, and their police department, traffic safety is a priority. The town comprises mainly residential neighborhoods close to the downtown business district, leading residents to share their concerns with police about incidents of speeding, running red lights and stop signs, and other traffic safety violations that increase the risk to children who play in the streets. Donalsonville police officers take pride in making themselves accessible to the residents, hoping to build trust and strong relationships with them. Each spring, the department hosts community events that actively involve citizens—including children of all ages—in fun, interactive learning activities that drive home lessons about the importance of following traffic safety laws and practices.

Harrisonville Police Department

The five interstates that cross through Harrisonville, Missouri, have raised traffic safety concerns among residents and visitors for many years. But it was the tragic death of a high school student who was struck and killed while walking home after the fourth day of his freshman year that led the police chief to create the CARES coalition, a collaboration of city departments, schools, and public safety agencies working together to improve safety throughout the community. The students at Harrisonville High School were also motivated to act, forming the TRACTION Program—which is a traffic safety club that is part of the CARES coalition. The club provides peer-to-peer safety messaging and promotes student involvement in traffic safety.

Hopkins Police Department

Hopkins, Minnesota, is a small, but very diverse, community just outside of Minneapolis. The police department has focused on being transparent with their community members by educating them on what officers do in the community; why they do it; and local policies, procedures, and state laws. Throughout the year, the department has made community trust and engagement a top priority through public outreach and participation in relationship-building initiatives like Lights On!, a grant-funded program that provides vouchers for minor vehicle repairs in lieu of citations.

Round Rock Police Department

In 2017, the fast-growing city of Round Rock, Texas, experienced a significant increase in traffic collisions. As a result, the police department and city government began looking for innovative ways to educate the public on traffic safety, so they turned to social media. The creation of Tom’s Traffic Tips is a novel and fun approach that has resonated with the community. In response to specific safety issues reported by residents, the police department produces short videos narrated by Lieutenant Tom Sloan that address those concerns. With more than 30 episodes, Tom’s Traffic Tips has generated a loyal following on the department’s social media, including YouTube and Facebook.

Through the Traffic Safety Initiatives Video Series, law enforcement personnel can gain fresh ideas on how to redefine and address traffic safety challenges in their communities using a community policing lens. The main takeaway from this video series is the importance of collaboration and engagement with not only the public but also other government and public safety entities. Traffic safety and reducing the number of traffic fatalities is not only in the hands of law enforcement; this public safety and public health concern can be effectively addressed by working together with the community and other aligned partners.

As a profession, law enforcement can work together to improve safety on roadways and in communities to create a better quality of life for all.d