As traffic deaths continue to increase, public safety officials are working hard to reverse the recent trends. Increasingly, agencies are finding that a collaborative approach is an effective means for addressing specific safety issues in their communities. The collection and analysis of data are crucial first steps in developing a successful strategy. Developing partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, and professional groups can provide valuable insights and increase the effectiveness of an agency’s outreach efforts. Finally, a robust educational strategy can greatly enhance the impact of a public safety campaign. The examples below represent a few of the efforts that incorporated these elements—data analysis, collaboration and partnerships, and education—successfully. For their accomplishments, these agencies were among those recognized in the 2016 National Law Enforcement Challenge.
Traffic Safety Initiatives: Collaborating for Traffic Safety Successes
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A common question heard in substance-impaired driving classes is, “Why do we do it this way?” Too often, the answer is simply, “Because that’s how we’ve always done it” or “That’s what...
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The world of impaired driving isn’t what it used to be. Alcohol is still the old villain, but it’s no longer acting alone. A more complicated, more dangerous player has entered the scene—poly-dr...
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A few years ago, the Colorado State Highway Safety Office identified a recent trend of increased refusal rates of impaired drivers of the required chemical test. While some U.S. states are implied con...
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According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, self-reported data revealed that 37.3 million individuals (ages 12 years or older) were current illicit drug users in the United States. M...
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Across the United States, police officers are encountering a troubling pattern: drivers who show unmistakable signs of impairment, such as slurred speech, slowed reaction time, or poor coordination, y...
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While there are law enforcement agencies that are fully staffed, many do not have the resources necessary for timely response to every call for service. When considering how leadership could improve o...
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In 2023, there were over 1,500 drug-impaired drivers for each certified drug recognition expert (DRE) in the United States. Research has shown that a 10 percent increase in driving under the influence...
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Oscar Kilo—the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS)—is specifically designed to provide support and guidance for organizational wellness to all police agencies within England and Wales. The pr...
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Impaired drivers pose a critical threat to public safety, and officers must be equipped with tools to detect impairment quickly and accurately. Advanced techniques can enhance the efficiency and sensi...
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Why is proving a case so difficult when the impairing drug of choice is marijuana? Police officers and prosecutors have become very skilled at investigating and convicting drivers impaired by alcohol....
