NCJ Number
64918
Journal
Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 252-269
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH THE WEST GERMAN POLICE HAVE MANY COMPETING FUNCTIONS RELATING TO TRAFFIC (ACCIDENT ASSISTANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRAFFIC LAW), CONTROL OF TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC OFFENDERS ARE THE PRIMARY PREVENTION ELEMENTS.
Abstract
SUCCESSFUL CONTROL OF TRAFFIC REQUIRES (1) DEFINITION OF POLICE VERSUS PLANNING AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES IN LAYING OUT AND PLANNING STREET SYSTEMS SO THAT OPTIMAL STREET PLANS ARE ACHIEVED AND (2) MODIFICATION OF TRAFFIC LAWS TO ENCOURAGE WEARING SEAT BELTS, RESPECTING SPEED LIMITS, AND AVOIDANCE OF DRUNK DRIVING. PROBLEMS COMPLICATING OPTIMALITY OF TRAFFIC CONTROL INCLUDE LATE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE MANAGEMENT; SHORTCOMINGS IN POLICE TRAINING; LACK OF ANTIDRUG AND ANTIALCOHOL MEASURES AND OF AID TO ALCOHOLICS AND ADDICTS; SLOW, INEFFICIENT POLICE TRAFFIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK; AND THE LACK OF A SYSTEM OF CHECKING OLDER VEHICLES. MORE POLICE TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPERTS AND COORDINATION OF TRAFFIC AND INVESTIGATIVE POLICE ARE NEEDED. POLICE TRAFFIC EXPERTS MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STREET SYSTEM AND ACCIDENTS TYPICAL OF THAT SYSTEM; MUST KNOW TRAFFIC LAW, TRICKS OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY, AND INTERAGENCY COORDINATION SYSTEMS; AND MUST POSSESS EXPERIENCE, INTEREST IN AUTOMOBILE SPORTS, AN EXCELLENT PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF APPROACHES TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. AN IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, MULTIDIMENSIONAL INFORMATION STORAGE, A CONCENTRATION OF AUTOMBILE DATA, MOBILE DATA STATIONS, AND POCKET TERMINALS FOR OFFICERS. PLANNING OF A NATIONWIDE DISPOL NETWORK IS ALSO ADVOCATED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)