Traffic Tech #250: Albuquerque's Safe Streets Program Improves Traffic Safety, Reduces Crime, And Saves Money |
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When a local high school athlete was killed over a stop sign right-of-way dispute, the citizens of Albuquerque demanded action. The task of "doing something about road rage" was taken on by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). In 1996, there had been a 13 percent jump in crashes, a noticeable increase in aggressive driving, and a 16 percent increase in crime. To some observers, these changes appeared to coincide with a general shift in the public's attitudes away from civility and respect for other citizens and the law.
In a 1982 article, Broken Windows, political scientist James Q. Wilson and criminologist George Kelling explained how neighborhoods might decay - both physically and culturally - if no one attends to their maintenance. They argued that the best way to fight crime was to fight the disorder that precedes it. Fixing Broken Windows by Kelling and Coles expanded the earlier article and examined the competing claims of individual liberty and community in determining to what extent public spaces should be protected. APD officers reasoned that if untended property eventually becomes fair game, untended behavior eventually leads to a breakdown of community control. They suggested that civility could be restored to Albuquerque streets by focusing special traffic enforcement effort on the most visible indicators that "no one cares." The APD officers identified aggressive driving, graffiti, and open-air drug sales as major targets.
"Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. Window-breaking does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined window-breakers whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing. (It always has been fun.)"
Safe Streets 1997
The special traffic enforcement program of Safe Streets 1997 revolved around four major elements: saturation patrols, follow-up patrols, freeway speed enforcement, and sobriety checkpoints.
Saturation patrols. The main strategy was to saturate four high-crash high-crime areas, one-at-a-time, with law enforcement officers. These special patrols consisted of 12 motorcycle officers, supported by members of the DWI team and officers drawn from the local area command. During the initial phase of the program, officers were deployed in the gateways used by non-residents to enter an area to purchase illegal drugs and commit other crimes. They wrote as many traffic citations as possible. Motorists were stopped and cited for all infractions, however minor.
Follow-up patrols. The saturation patrols continued in the same area for one month, then shifted to the next area on the list. Twice each week during the second month of the program, officers returned to the first area; the schedule was reduced to one day per week during the third month of the program, as the focus shifted to the third area, and then a month later to the fourth area. Bicycle and mounted patrols were added in this phase. The reduced presence after the main focus had moved on was intended to convey both the reality and perception of all areas as special enforcement zones.
New Mexico Know Your Speed Program. The New Mexico State Traffic Safety Bureau helped organize and equip a special freeway unit to patrol the two major highways that intersect in the heart of the city, a total of 30 miles of urban interstate. In addition to unmarked cars, they used "cherry-pickers" that generated large volumes of traffic citations, primarily for speeding. An officer, equipped with a radio and a laser speed gun, was positioned above the lanes of a freeway in a hydraulically-operated lift borrowed from the transportation department. Between 5 and 10 additional officers waited downstream. The media found the cherry-picker operations to be particularly newsworthy.
Sobriety Checkpoints. The ADP has conducted 25 to 30 sobriety checkpoints each year for many years, and at least two were conducted during each month of the Safe Street 1997 program. ADP checkpoints result in at least 25 DWI arrests each time one is conducted.
Take the Pledge. Officers attended meetings of neighborhood associations to describe the Safe Streets program and enlist participating by pledging to drive safely. There was an extensive media campaign of radio announcements, bus display ads, and bumper stickers. A citizen complaint hot line encouraged citizens to report traffic problems.
Crimes Against Persons and Property Decline
The four special enforcement areas together experienced a 9.5 percent decrease in crimes against persons during the first six months of the program, compared to the same months one year earlier. The overall decline included a 29 percent decline in homicide, 17 percent decline in kidnaping, and a 10 percent decline in assault. Similarly, crimes against property in the four special enforcement areas together showed a 12 percent decrease compared to the same months one year earlier, ending 3 percent below for the year. The overall decline included 36 percent decline in arson, 10 percent decline in fraud, and 9 percent declines in both robbery and burglary.
Traffic Crashes Decrease by 12 Percent
In the five years before the program, traffic collisions had increased by 51 percent in Albuquerque. All crashes declined by 12 percent in 1997, from the year before. There were 18 percent fewer injury crashes, and 34 percent fewer fatal crashes.
Enforcement Activity
| Citations | 85,231 |
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| Vehicles towed | 5,703 |
| Misdemeanor arrests | 1,981 |
| Misdemeanor warrants | 1,290 |
| DWI arrests | 987 |
| Felony arrests | 417 |
| Felony warrants | 132 |
| Stolen vehicle recovered | 112 |
| DRE arrests | 55 |
The public's response to Safe Streets 1997 surprised many of the officers. Residents came out of their homes and cheered as officers made enforcement stops in their neighborhoods. In business districts, passing motorists honked their horns and gestured their support of the special enforcement effort. Officers were invited to appear on television, newspapers published favorable articles, and citizens wrote letters to the editor expressing sincere appreciation for the special enforcement program.
HOW TO ORDER
For a copy of Albuquerque Police Department's Safe Streets Program (23 pages) write to Research and Traffic Records, NHTSA, NTS-31, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590; or send a fax to (202) 366-7096; or download www.nhtsa.dot.gov
U.S. Department
of Transportation
National Highway
Traffic Safety
Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-31
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, fax (202) 366-7096
E-MAIL: lcosgrove@nhtsa.dot.gov