Traffic Tech #83: Traffic Enforcement Saving Lives and Combating Crime |
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Number 83 January 1995
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAVING LIVES AND COMBATING CRIME
Law enforcement agencies across the country are taking steps to address their community's needs in combating crime. Limited personnel, increased requests for services, and rising violent crime rates are common in many communities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes that a strong traffic enforcement program will reduce the daily toll of death and injury on our nation's highways and, at the same time, combat crime as well.
In 1993, 40,115 people died in motor vehicle crashes while 24,530 were victims of homicides. Motor vehicle crashes cost approximately $137 billion annually compared to $19 billion each year for victims of personal and household crimes. In the United States, one highway fatality occurs every 13 minutes; one murder occurs every 21 minutes.
NHTSA believes that traffic enforcement not only saves lives, injuries, and dollars, it also supplements many criminal enforcement activities. NHTSA has prepared a short brochure about traffic enforcement and crime, reporting facts from the Bureau of Justice Services, the FBI, and NHTSA. Twelve law enforcement agencies and state highway safety offices contributed to developing the brochure.
The brochure highlights successful traffic enforcement programs conducted throughout the country. There are statistics, facts, and anecdotal information. It also discusses specific traffic enforcement programs such as:
The brochure can be used by law enforcement executives and elected public officials to show the relationship between traffic enforcement, crime, and public safety. For example, law enforcement officers who arrest drunk or drugged drivers prevent other deaths, injuries and violent crimes. In 1993, 17,461 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes; 56% of inmates jailed for violent crimes were drinking or using drugs when they committed their crime; and 13% of inmates committed offenses to get money for drugs. This brochure will help show how traffic enforcement can help in the fight against crime.
For a copy of Saving Lives and Combating Crime, write to Police Traffic Services, NHTSA, NTS-41, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, or send a fax to (202) 366-7721.
1994 Traffic Tech Issues
| January | May | August | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No.59 | Police Costs Associated with Administrative License Revocation | No.68 | Uniform Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services Data Conference | No.76 | Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention in Highway Safety and Public Health Agencies |
| No.60 | Reducing Young Drivers' Risk Taking Through Training | No.69 | The Effects of Publicizing Insurance Sanctions as a Countermeasure for DWI | No.77 | Evaluation of Vehicle Plate Sticker Laws in Oregon and Washington |
| No.61 | Innovative State and Community Traffic Safety Projects | ||||
| February | June | September | |||
| No.62
| Marijuana Effects on Actual Driving Performance | No.70
| Developing A Designated Driver Program | No.78 | A Resource Manual for Public Information and Education in Emergency Medical Services |
| No. 63 | ,Responses of Women and Men to Traffic Safety Messages | No.71
| Personnel Allocation Manual and User's Guide: Municipal Police Departments | ||
| No.72 | Fostering Proper Use of Toddler Safety Seats Through Law Enforcement and Education | ||||
| March | July | October | |||
| No.64
| Traffic Safety Summit II Final Report | No.73
| Review of Community Traffic Safety Programs | No.79 | Research Agenda for an Improved Novice Driver Education Program |
| No.65 | Emergency Medical Services System Development: Results of the Statewide EMS Assessment Program | No.74
| Safety Information Materials and Media Plans for Older Pedestrians | ||
| No.75 | Revised Emergency Medical Technician-Basic: National Standard Curriculum | ||||
| April | November | ||||
| No.66
| Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety: A Review of Key Program and Countermeasure Developments during the 1980's | No.80
| Computing a BAC Estimate | ||
| No.67 | WALK ALERT: A National Pedestrian Safety Program Guide | No.81 | Emergency Medical Services Outcomes Evaluation: An Examination of Key Issues and Future Directions |
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway
Traffic Safety
Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-33
Washington, DC 20590
Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate information about traffic safety programs, including evaluations, innovative programs, and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish.
If you would like to receive a copy contact:
Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor,
Evaluation Staff Traffic Safety Programs
(202) 366-2759