InFocus

January: Law Enforcement Roadway Safety

January 27, 2025

 

The big picture: Risks while driving can be deadly, but they can be mitigated. 

Officers regularly encounter dangerous situations, many of which occur while behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the culture in policing normalizes risk-taking while on roadways, whether it’s not wearing seat belts or driving fatigued, which contributes to the number of officer-involved crashes and struck-by incidents each year.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, traffic-related fatalities increased in 2024 by a staggering 48% from 2023. Why?

Many officers believe that these tragedies are caused by dark environments or deteriorating weather. However, research* shows that approximately 69% of fatal officer-involved crashes occurred in clear or cloudy conditions, 67% occurred during light conditions, and 90% occurred when roads were dry.

So, what is the real reason officers are falling victim to traffic incidents? There is limited research in this space, and, of course, there are many contributing factors. But, by learning and applying best practices, individuals within law enforcement can make a positive difference and potentially save lives. Let us show you how.

 

What we know: Speed, seat belt usage, and fatigue can play a role in officer injuries and fatalities on roadways.

Law enforcement officers tend to approach tasks with speed. Oftentimes, agencies are overworked and understaffed, and they feel the heat and pressure to do things the right way and quickly. This begins at the academy, where courses are timed, and clearing calls need to be done with haste, or there’s a risk of them stacking up. Not to mention the public’s ongoing evaluation of agencies’ response times.

While behind the wheel, officers hustle to calls, often exceeding speed limits. Speed significantly reduces survivability in a crash; it’s the strongest risk factor in motor vehicle crash fatalities. Studies show that officers face a higher risk of death and injury traveling to the scene of an incident than at the actual scene itself.

Research shows a strong association between injury severity and seat belt use. Seat belts are a significant factor in surviving a crash, but many officers still don’t wear them. Sadly, from 2017 to 2021, 47% of officers killed in crashes weren’t wearing their seat belts.
Fatigued officers are at serious risk for collisions. Upon reaching 17-19 hours awake, an officer’s performance is impaired at a level similar to a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05. After 24 hours awake, impairment is equal to a BAC of 0.10.   
 
Getting enough rest is crucial for officer safety. However, a study by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research demonstrated that sleep debt cannot be paid off by getting one hour of sleep for each hour of sleep deficit. Agencies can mitigate this by implementing a fatigue management policy.  

 

If It’s Predictable, It’s Preventable: National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety (NLERS) Program instructor shares stories of close calls.

David Flory, an instructor with the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety (NLERS) Program, shares stories with NPI’s Brett Cowell and explains how the recommendations in the NLERS curriculum really work. Read about their conversation.

 

The bottom line: Roadway safety is officer safety. 

Agencies can’t prevent officers from encountering dangerous situations. It’s the unfortunate nature of the role. However, each officer can attempt to prevent roadway injuries or deaths by taking an extra step and learning about personal officer safety. We hope the resources below help you, your agency, and your colleagues to mitigate as much risk as possible while you bravely serve and protect.

  • Be roadway safe. The National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety (NLERS) Program, an NPI-operated initiative, hosts an online resource toolkit. Discover in-person courses, online courses, resources, and more at no cost. Check it out.
    • Enroll in self-paced courses: NLERS provides an online, no-cost training platform that gives officers in busy jurisdictions the flexibility to learn at their own pace. Register for courses today.
  • Explore this toolkit. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers an officer road code toolkit designed to help officers arrive to calls alive.
  • Access valuable resources. The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) provides tangible officer safety resources, including programs, presentations, and posters all about roadway safety.

 

*Review research citations used in this issue here.