NCJ Number
57255
Date Published
1978
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THIS INTERIM ASSESSMENT OF THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE CONCENTRATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT AND A SUMMARY OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM OPERATED FOR 6 MONTHS DURING FISCAL YEAR 1978, THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF WHICH ARE EVALUATED IN THIS REPORT (SEPTEMBER 1977 THROUGH DECEMBER 1977). THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON CHANGES IN BOTH THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF ACCIDENTS DURING THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF OPERATION (SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER 1977) DUE TO A LAG IN DATA AVAILABILITY. THE DESCRIPTION OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDES SUMMARIES OF THE HOURS OF ADDED PATROL, THE ISSUANCE OF CITATIONS AND WARNINGS, AND THE LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT DURING THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF OPERATION. THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF DATA WERE BIMONTHLY BY THE STATE POLICE AND DTS ACCIDENT RECORDS. SPECIFIC BY THE STATE POLICE AND DTS ACCIDENT RECORDS. SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) PROVIDE 48,720 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF PATROL, (2) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS--ADD 16,800 CONTACTS TO EXISTING ENFORCEMENT, (3) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING DURING HOURS OF ADDED PATROL FROM 1,054 TO 878--16.7 PERCENT DECREASE, AND (4) REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF ACCIDENTS FROM A RATE OF 370 TO 357. ACCIDENTS ON SELECTED ROUTES FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER DURING TIMES WHEN EXTRA PATROL WAS NOT MOUNTED INCREASED BY 22.8 PERCENT BUT ACCIDENTS DURING SCHEDULED HOURS OF ADDED PATROL DECREASED BY 0.8 PERCENT. THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN WELL-MANAGED AND THE QUANTITY OF ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN GREATER THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER, EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ENFORCE A WIDER RANGE OF TRAFFIC LAWS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THOSE LAWS WHICH WHEN VIOLATED MAY CONTRIBUTE TO ACCIDENTS. MORE DRINKING DRIVERS SHOULD BE APPREHENDED, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS OF ADJUDICATION WHICH MAY FRUSTRATE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THIS PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, INCREASED PUBLICITY WOULD BRING THE PROGRAM TO THE ATTENTION OF MORE OF THE PUBLIC. ACCIDENTS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT DURING SCHEDULED HOURS OF EXTRA PATROL, BUT INCREASED DURING OTHER HOURS. THUS, THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO BE EFFECTIVE DURING EXTRA PATROL-SCHEDULED HOURS, BUT INEFFECTIVE DURING THE OFF HOURS. DETAILED STATISTICAL DATA ARE PROVIDED AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)