NCJ Number
50043
Journal
Trooper Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY-AUGUST 1978) Pages: 40-43
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CTEP PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS IS ASSESSED AFTER 6 MONTHS OF OPERATION. THE PROGRAM CONCENTRATES TRAFFIC POLICE AT POINTS ASSESSED TO BE HIGH-RISK ACCIDENT AREAS.
Abstract
THE CTEP PROGRAM RAN FOR TWO SEPARATE PERIODS IN 1978, AND APPROXIMATELY $523,000 OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FUNDS WERE SPENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROGRAM, MOSTLY FOR TROOPERS' WAGES. TRAFFIC INCIDENT DATA WAS FED INTO A COMPUTER TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON WHERE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS AND FATAL AND PERSONAL INJURY CRASHES OCCURRED. FORTY-FIVE HIGH-RISK LOCALES WERE SELECTED AND STATE TROOPERS, WORKING ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS, WERE DISPATCHED IN CONCENTRATED NUMBERS TO THOSE AREAS. THIS DUTY WAS REWARDED BY SPECIAL COMPENSATION SINCE MOST OF THE PATROLS WERE ASSIGNED AFTER REGULAR WORKING HOURS. THE OFFICERS WORKED INTENSIVELY AND TICKETED ALL OBSERVED VIOLATIONS. THE PRESENCE OF THE CTEP PATROL OFFICERS IN THE 45 LOCALES WAS BROADCAST THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TO NOTIFY THE CITIZENRY. THERE WAS A STRONG BELIEF AMONG THE OFFICERS THAT THE COMPUTER DESIGNATIONS OF HIGH RISK LOCALES WERE MISTAKEN, AND AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE AREAS FOR PATROL EVENTUALLY WAS SHIFTED BACK TO THE DISTRICT COMMANDERS. AFTER THE 6-MONTH PERIOD, A DETERRENT EFFECT ON DRIVERS IN THESE AREAS WAS OBSERVED EVEN WHEN THE CTEP PATROL WAS NOT PRESENT. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN FATAL AND PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENTS IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS. A VERY HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC, HOWEVER, WAS SEEN TO DILUTE THE SQUAD CAR'S DETERRENT EFFECTS. (DAG)