NCJ Number
98865
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1985) Pages: 38-41,43,46-52,54-59
Editor(s)
J W Sterling,
C E Higginbotham
Date Published
1985
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This series of nine articles examines issues relating to traffic law enforcement and vehicular safety, including resource allocation, seat belt laws, and computer-aided operations.
Abstract
Tasks of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Highway Safety Committee are described. These include the passing and distribution of resolutions reflecting modern traffic law enforcement, development of a Uniform Traffic Report, research into law enforcement attitudes toward the 55-mph speed limit, creation of a staffing formula, and support for the provision of airbags in police fleets. The development of allocation standards for Virginia State troopers is described, together with factors considered in the adoption of four allocation methods: one for inter-State patrols based on standards, one for area patrols based on proportional distribution, another to achieve minimum standards of coverage for patrol areas, and a fourth to prevent disruption of current trooper distribution. The use of computer technology in an accident/selective traffic enforcement system also is described. This system permits police agencies to maintain a long-term data base and assess the impact of their proactive or selective enforcement programs. Results of a survey of police chiefs are presented which indicate that many departments had programs to encourage seat belt use, that a majority recorded seat belt use by persons in accidents, and that the media infrequently solicited information about seat belt use in accidents. Responsibilities of the Chicago Police Department's Traffic Safety and Training Section are described. These include educational presentations at schools and in the general community, evaluation of traffic safety programs, assessment of intradepartmental driving records and accidents, and preparation of publications on traffic safety. Highlights of 1984 changes in the Uniform Vehicle Code are noted, and the IACP model safety belt policy is presented. Finally, the use of pocket-sized computers to speed computation of the mathematical formulas used in accident homicide investigations is described.