NCJ Number
240251
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 40 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2012 Pages: 502-514
Date Published
December 2012
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the use of a problem-oriented approach employed by police in Cincinnati, OH, to reduce injury-related traffic crashes.
Abstract
The study found that within the city of Cincinnati, OH, implementation of a problem-oriented approach to dealing with injury-related traffic crashes resulted in a decline in these types of accidents by an average of 5.7 percent to 10.3 percent compared to other areas in the surrounding county and throughout the State. In addition, the study found that DUI checkpoints, a specific component of the approach, reduced traffic crashes somewhere between 10 percent and 15 percent on average. This study investigated the use of CARS (Crash Analysis Reduction Strategy), a problem-oriented approach to reducing the number of injury-related traffic crashes, by the Cincinnati, OH, Police Department. Data for the study were obtained by examining the injury-related traffic crash patterns at targeted locations and comparing these to similar outcomes across a number of comparison sites. Analysis of the data suggest that a comprehensive problem-solving approach to reduce injury-related traffic crashes can lead to positive results more so than traditional policing efforts that focus strictly on crime and violence. Study limitations are discussed. Figures, tables, appendix, notes and references