The death or injury of a police officer as a result of a motor vehicle crash is as serious and costly today as it was 20 years ago. From economics on both state and local levels to the psychological impact on agencies and families, the effect of such a tragic event is nearly impossible to imagine unless, of course, one has experienced it.

The sad reality is that this loss is often preventable. In 2010, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Research Bulletin reported on line-of-duty deaths, showing that of the 162 officers killed that year, 50 died in automobile crashes.