NCJ Number
137275
Date Published
1991
Length
147 pages
Annotation
Information from six police agencies in Great Britain formed the basis of an analysis of traffic law enforcement including its nature and operation, its priorities, problems faced by management, and the expectations of police officers and the public.
Abstract
The research focused on whether traffic policing is better organized on a specialized and centralized basis or whether resources and supervision should be placed at more local levels within the police force. Data were gathered from more than 1,000 police officers through observation, interviews, self-report questionnaires, and document reviews. In addition, an interview survey was conducted among 2,000 drivers in 4 police force areas. The majority of managers and supervisors favored a planned approach to traffic policing, and broad agreement existed regarding priorities. Patrol officers often felt that their experience was not recognized and used. Overall, a centralized system appears to provide better traffic policing. In addition, specialized traffic policing skills and a regional or national approach are most needed on major roads where traffic patterns often have little relationship to police force boundaries. Other issues considered were driver education, the use of new technology, environmental issues, and the need for strategic planning. Tables, appended tables and background information, list of other publications, and 50 references