The Road to Safety: Law Enforcement Defensive Driver Training

Law enforcement personnel spend extensive time on the road. Paradoxically, building defensive driving skills often receives little attention in basic academy training and is seldom promoted as part of in-service training. The need for defensive driver training is increasingly evident. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 33% of all line-of-duty deaths are motor vehicle-related. Furthermore, countrywide data finds that collisions involving law enforcement vehicles typically occur during routine driving conditions and are often preventable.

Law enforcement should be trained on a consistent basis and practice defensive driving because of their extensive time on the road and the unique demands of their duties. The State of Connecticut has over 90 municipal police departments, employing over 6,500 police officers. Vehicle-related incidents could be prevented if more effective driving techniques were applied behind the wheel. Ensuring municipal law enforcement is adequately trained on defensive driving can help minimize the hazards officers face while performing their duties on the road.

The following are the leading behavior-related hazards that put officers at risk of a crash while performing their duties: 

• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Speeding, mainly through intersections
• Distracted driving, using a mobile data terminal or other electronics
• Experiencing tunnel vision from increased stress

Defensive driver training and education, better driving practices, and increased awareness can help keep law enforcement officers and their communities safe. Officers work together to make their communities safer; they should also take every measure to keep themselves safe. Emergency vehicle operation is a primary activity for municipal law enforcement agencies, which further punctuates the need to routinely train officers on vehicle safety and defensive driving skills. 

CIRMA offers comprehensive defensive driver training resources for law enforcement personnel. Our robust training and education tools feature awareness and statistics of police vehicle accidents, a review of state statutes, and risk management best practices. 

Has your municipality or school board taken advantage of the many benefits available through CIRMA’s exclusive training tools and resources? Contact your local CIRMA Risk Management representative to get started today.