NCJ Number
69210
Journal
TRAFFIC SAFETY Volume: 78 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 18-20,28
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
DRIVER TRAINING COURSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS ARE ADVOCATED TO REDUCE ACCIDENT RATES AND TO ALLEVIATE THE DANGER OF AGENCY NEGLECT SUITS.
Abstract
WHILE POLLICE OFFICERS ARE GIVEN EXTENSIVE FIREARMS TRAINING, THEY ARE NOT TRAINED IN DRIVING, EVEN THOUGH INJURIES FROM VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OUTNUMBER WEAPONS' ACCIDENTS SIGNIFICANTLY. AN ESTIMATED $1,686,726 MILLION IN LOSSES COULD BE ATTRIBUTED IN 1972 TO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EMERGENCY VEHICLES IN VIRGINIA ALONE, AND MORE RECENT ESTIMATES ARE HIGHER. EVEN A 15 PERCENT REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS WOULD AMOUNT TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. EVALUATION OF A 3-DAY, 8-HOUR-PER-DAY COURSE AT A CIVILIAN-OPERATED ADVANCED DRIVER TRAINING ACADEMY IN CALIFORNIA HAS SHOWN THAT ANNUAL ACCIDENT RATES CAN BE IMPROVED AS MUCH AS 50 TO 75 PERCENT AND THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON TRAINING WOULD SAVE $12 PER YEAR IN ACCIDENT RATE REDUCTION. DEPARTMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE AFFORDABLE IF CARS FOR TRAINING ARE INCLUDED IN TOTAL CARS ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND IF INSTRUCTORS ARE DRAWN FROM THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. A SECOND, LESS EXPENSIVE TRAINING OPTION DETAILS CONTRACTING THE SERVICES OF AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION AND POSSIBLE OBTAINING GRANT MONEY FOR THIS PURPOSE FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. A THIRD OPTION IS THE FINE-FUNDED COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA OR AN EQUIVALENT ORGANIZATION. AS A FOURTH OPTION, SUPPORT MIGHT BE SUPPLIED BY CITY MANAGERS INTERESTED IN AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO REDUCE ACCIDENT RATES AND COSTS. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY IS FOLLOWING THE ACTIVITIES OF AGENCIES CONDUCTING DRIVER EDUCATION IN AN ATTEMPT TO GATHER MEANINGFUL STATISTICS ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND TO DEVELOP PROGRAM STANDARDS.