Distracted driving is a nationwide issue that has prompted many states to enact “hands-free” legislation — forcing drivers’ hands back onto the steering wheel and away from the distracting temptations of their phones. For police officers who respond to and investigate traffic collisions, it is no secret that distracted driving is a leading factor in preventable crashes, just as it is with the general public.
Personal vehicles can be full of distractions, and each year manufacturers add more technology that practically allows the car to drive itself. But what about police vehicles?
Counting the potential distractions available inside a patrol car can produce an unnervingly high number. There’s radar units, mobile computer or mobile data terminal systems, automated license recognition equipment, work phones, ride-alongs, siren boxes, light controllers and radios. Beyond all of those concerns, officers are also actively looking for criminal activity while driving, or they may have a disorderly or difficult arrestee in the back seat.
Whether they realize it or not, officers do sometimes drive distracted — and they are often expected to operate in a state of divided attention due to the requirements of the job. Even so, there must be a careful balance between recognizing that reality and doing everything possible to limit unnecessary distractions to prevent collisions.
Unfortunately, preventable police vehicle collisions are on the rise. The consequences are significant: damaged police vehicles, damaged civilian vehicles, bodily injury claims, workers’ compensation claims, and perhaps the ultimate punishment for the officer — being assigned the spare 20-year-old, high-mileage cruiser because it’s the only car left.
Reducing distractions
Agencies must prioritize limiting distractions to the greatest extent possible while vehicles are in motion. As law enforcement technology advances and live computer-aided design, or CAD, systems become more common, agencies can — and should — configure those systems to reduce distraction.
Policies should clearly prohibit handheld device use, even when statutory exemptions exist for officers acting in their official capacity. If officers are enforcing hands-free laws against the public, it is reasonable to expect that — absent exigent circumstances — they comply with those laws themselves.
Additional strategies to reduce distraction include enabling voice commands on mobile data terminals, limiting MDT interaction while vehicles are moving, and requiring officers to pull over to enter data when practical. Agencies should utilize well-designed console layouts that place radios, lights, sirens, and radar controls in logical, easily accessible locations. They should use hands-free siren activation through the horn whenever possible, and policies should clearly define when exemptions apply — such as true emergencies versus routine patrol operations.
Leadership buy-in
Limiting distracted driving in police vehicles is not about eliminating distractions entirely — it is about leadership, culture, and risk management. Agencies that acknowledge the reality of distracted driving while taking proactive steps to reduce it are better positioned to protect their officers, the public and the organization itself.
For those who would like to meet with a loss control consultant to discuss reducing auto losses or any topic related to safety or risk management, contact Risk Management Services Loss Control staff at losscontrol@masc.sc.