NCJ Number
78008
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 29 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1981) Pages: 32-37
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the three-pronged effort undertaken by the Omaha Police Division (Nebraska) to reduce fatalities and the severity of auto accidents since 1979.
Abstract
The Nebraska Highway Safety Program funded additional manpower for the undertaking, which began with a research effort to identify the city's high accident locations. The units of selective enforcement, accident investigation, and the selective traffic enforcement program (STEP) were removed from the patrol section to concentrate exclusively on the traffic problem. Accident investigators are especially trained and equipped to investigate fatalities, serious injuries, hit and run incidents, and vehicle collisions. Their authority includes complete control of the accident scene, investigative procedures, and the investigation report. The selective enforcement unit operates in radar cars, cruises the city, and responds to all forms of traffic violations and citizen's traffic-related complaints. STEP concentrates on the top 12 patrol districts with the highest level of personal injury collisions. Each district receives intensive traffic enforcement for 2-week periods in a yearly cycle. The STEP officers maintain high visibility to make all motorists aware of the stepped-up enforcement. While Omaha recorded 38 traffic deaths in 1978, there were only 29 in 1979. Injury and nonfatal accidents dropped from 5,239 in 1978 to 4,634 in 1979 and 4,247 in 1980. One illustration is given.