Police and highway patrol officers put their lives on the line every day. They accept this risk as part of their duty to serve and protect. Law enforcement administrators remain committed to doing all they can to reduce possible risks to the lives of their officers. A rising threat to officer safety is the danger of being hit by passing vehicles during traffic stops.
Reports issued by the FBI state that the number of law enforcement officers who were killed or injured from being struck by passing vehicles continues to occur despite legistalation and efforts to the contrary. This fact is surprising and discouraging, given the implementation of move-over/slow-down laws in most states, as well as the initiatives taken to improve traffic stop training and techniques.
Since 2003, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Stops and Safety (LESS) Subcommittee has led efforts to reduce officer deaths and injuries with new training and modified procedures for traffic stops. Many law enforcement agencies have adopted these new guidelines.
As of 2012, all 50 states have enacted laws requiring drivers to reduce speed and, if possible, move in the presence of an emergency vehicle.
The first steps to increasing safety for police officers are understanding the problem and raising awareness. In order to facilitate this, a study was conducted to investigate prior report data and also to gather new research through awareness surveys completed by law enforcement professionals.
Download our free guide today to learn how a technology-based solution, SAFETYZONE™, can add a layer of protection to increase on-the-job safety for officers who continually face the risk of injury during traffic stops.
