How to survive as a traffic police officer

Traffic is more hazardous to police officers than gunbattles.

According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, "A total of 1,626 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 53 hours or 163 per year." Throughout the late 1990s and into the this decade, more police officers have died from traffic accidents than shootings, although interacting with suspects during traffic stops continues to prove dangerous.

Things You'll Need

• body armor
• reflective traffic vests

Instructions

Police Officer Safety

1. Wear reflective vests when you are working in traffic and were body armor at all times. Traffic accidents kill more police officers than criminals with guns. Reflective vests increase an officer's visibility when he is roadside and body armor lessens the impact of traffic accidents.

2. Turn your wheels to the left when you have pulled someone over before you get out of your vehicle. According to bluesheepdog.com, a website used by law enforcement officers, "It happens to a lot of officers: your cruiser gets rear-ended by a passing motorist. If you are out of your car, and your wheels are turned to the left, your patrol car will (hopefully) roll to the left, and away from you."

3. Get plenty of sleep. Reaction time and critical thinking skills decrease when officers have not had enough sleep. The Central Florida Police Stress Unit quotes The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund as stating "To do your job you must be alert. Being sleepy or asleep on the job is not only against regulations, but you endanger yourself, the community and all your fellow officers."

4. Stay alert. Conventional wisdom might suggest that suburban and rural police officers are in situations with less potential for violence, but experienced police officers know this is not the case. Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Bob Anderson recalled a time that he had to subdue and detain a violent suspect while having a broken leg. He had no immediate back up. According to Anderson, "The biggest hazard is complacency."

5. Position yourself advantageously when questioning someone. Your location should always give you the physical advantage when dealing with individuals. For example, the bluesheepdog.com implores officers who have made a traffic stop to "get out quickly. When running your license checks, stand near the passenger/rear of your car and run them on the radio, or if you have to use your in-car computer, access it from the passenger side of your car. Writing a ticket? Try standing at the rear of your car again."

References

• Central Florida Police Stress Units: Avoiding The Ten Fatal Errors
• National Public Radio:Study: Traffic Incidents Top Cause Of Police Deaths
• USA Today: Traffic Accidents Biggest Threats to Cops
• Deseret News: Dangers of Being A Rural Cop in Utah
• Blue Sheepdog:Traffic Stop Survival: Tips for Police Officers on Staying Safe

Resources

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Latest NLEOMF Research Bulletinnd: