Reducing Law Enforcement Collisions: A Data-Based Approach to ...
Reducing Law Enforcement Collisions: A Data‐Based Approach to Policy and Practice Bryon G. Gustafson – Sr. Law Enforcement Consultant California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training CACP/OACP – Traffic Symposium Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada – October 26, 2010
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Basis For This Presentation
Visit www.post.ca.gov/SAFEDriving to learn more. 2
Presentation Goal & Outline “To describe best practices for evaluating traffic collision data and making training and operational policy and practice decisions to improve traffic safety.” 1.Defining the Problem – California and US Examples 2.The Knowledge Base – What Do We Already Know? 3.Addressing the Problem – Policy and Practice 4.Applicability to Your Agency, Region, Province, Nation… Feel free to ask questions or make comments at any time. 3
The Officer‐Involved Fatal Collision Crisis
*2010 is on track to surpass 60 officer traffic deaths. 4
The Officer‐Involved Fatal Collision Crisis
Officer Traffic Fatality Rate 2000 – 2009 by State (average annual rate per 100,000 LEOs)
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The California Example – Injuries & Fatals
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The California Example – Why They Crash
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What Do We Already Know? Why do drivers of motor vehicles crash? Primary Collisions Factors?
Speed Turning Movements Fatigue Distraction
Acts of God? Weather? Proximate Causes vs. Root Causes (Gordon Graham) 8
What Do We Already Know? The 2008 Driver Training Study: Volume I studied LEDS, EVOC, and other aspects of law enforcement driver training. One component considered collision rates among officers with no in‐service driver training, and those with only LEDS, only EVOC, or blended LEDS/EVOC (both). POST found that officers who had BOTH had lower (improved) collision rates.
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Addressing the Problem What do we value in law enforcement? Response Time? “Hard‐chargers”? SAFE Drivers?
What do we tolerate? What about other “driving” industries? Cultures and Conditions (Gordon Graham) What values are communicated in your agency? 10
Adressing The Problem
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Situation‐Appropriate, Focused, and Educated “Situation‐Appropriate” recognizes the need for LEOs to modify their driving for varied “situations” and for trainers, supervisors, and chiefs or sheriffs to establish and reinforce what is “appropriate” for their agency. “Focused” addresses the many concerns related to roadway position, distraction, fatigue, and multi‐tasking. “Educated” refers to both training and policy and the need for officers to apply learning from these areas to their driving.
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Addressing the Problem The SAFE Driving Campaign is aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury law enforcement traffic collisions nationwide. It has three membership components to assist POST in achieving this goal: an Advisory Board concerned with national awareness efforts, a Research Team tasked with the identification of officer‐involved collision causes and interventions, and a Vehicle Operations and Training Advisory Council focused on the advancement of best policy and training practices. Visit www.post.ca.gov to learn more about SAFE Driving. 13
Addressing the Problem – A Model
http://www.post.ca.gov/driver‐training‐study.aspx 14
Applicability to Your Agency, Province… Define your problem: What is happening that should not happen? Collect data to differentiate feelings from facts.
Learn why the problem is occurring: What are the proximate and root causes?
Decide what you can change: Weather vs. policy; Technology vs. mindset…
Get the right people to the table: One‐sided coalitions are weak… Decide what in your data is good and bad. Then ask why? 15
Questions & Comments What are the perceived issues in your agency? Would this method work for you? How we can we help each other?
What made sense? What didn’t? What do you think? 16
Contact Information Bryon G. Gustafson SAFE Driving Campaign CA Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training 1601 Alhambra Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95816‐8073 USA (916) 227‐3902 [email protected]
www.post.ca.gov/SAFEDriving 17
Thank You for Your Time!
18
1
Basis For This Presentation
Visit www.post.ca.gov/SAFEDriving to learn more. 2
Presentation Goal & Outline “To describe best practices for evaluating traffic collision data and making training and operational policy and practice decisions to improve traffic safety.” 1.Defining the Problem – California and US Examples 2.The Knowledge Base – What Do We Already Know? 3.Addressing the Problem – Policy and Practice 4.Applicability to Your Agency, Region, Province, Nation… Feel free to ask questions or make comments at any time. 3
The Officer‐Involved Fatal Collision Crisis
*2010 is on track to surpass 60 officer traffic deaths. 4
The Officer‐Involved Fatal Collision Crisis
Officer Traffic Fatality Rate 2000 – 2009 by State (average annual rate per 100,000 LEOs)
5
The California Example – Injuries & Fatals
6
The California Example – Why They Crash
7
What Do We Already Know? Why do drivers of motor vehicles crash? Primary Collisions Factors?
Speed Turning Movements Fatigue Distraction
Acts of God? Weather? Proximate Causes vs. Root Causes (Gordon Graham) 8
What Do We Already Know? The 2008 Driver Training Study: Volume I studied LEDS, EVOC, and other aspects of law enforcement driver training. One component considered collision rates among officers with no in‐service driver training, and those with only LEDS, only EVOC, or blended LEDS/EVOC (both). POST found that officers who had BOTH had lower (improved) collision rates.
9
Addressing the Problem What do we value in law enforcement? Response Time? “Hard‐chargers”? SAFE Drivers?
What do we tolerate? What about other “driving” industries? Cultures and Conditions (Gordon Graham) What values are communicated in your agency? 10
Adressing The Problem
11
Situation‐Appropriate, Focused, and Educated “Situation‐Appropriate” recognizes the need for LEOs to modify their driving for varied “situations” and for trainers, supervisors, and chiefs or sheriffs to establish and reinforce what is “appropriate” for their agency. “Focused” addresses the many concerns related to roadway position, distraction, fatigue, and multi‐tasking. “Educated” refers to both training and policy and the need for officers to apply learning from these areas to their driving.
12
Addressing the Problem The SAFE Driving Campaign is aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury law enforcement traffic collisions nationwide. It has three membership components to assist POST in achieving this goal: an Advisory Board concerned with national awareness efforts, a Research Team tasked with the identification of officer‐involved collision causes and interventions, and a Vehicle Operations and Training Advisory Council focused on the advancement of best policy and training practices. Visit www.post.ca.gov to learn more about SAFE Driving. 13
Addressing the Problem – A Model
http://www.post.ca.gov/driver‐training‐study.aspx 14
Applicability to Your Agency, Province… Define your problem: What is happening that should not happen? Collect data to differentiate feelings from facts.
Learn why the problem is occurring: What are the proximate and root causes?
Decide what you can change: Weather vs. policy; Technology vs. mindset…
Get the right people to the table: One‐sided coalitions are weak… Decide what in your data is good and bad. Then ask why? 15
Questions & Comments What are the perceived issues in your agency? Would this method work for you? How we can we help each other?
What made sense? What didn’t? What do you think? 16
Contact Information Bryon G. Gustafson SAFE Driving Campaign CA Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training 1601 Alhambra Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95816‐8073 USA (916) 227‐3902 [email protected]
www.post.ca.gov/SAFEDriving 17
Thank You for Your Time!
18
