STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF POLICE ENFORCEMENT ON DRIVER BEHAVIOR

TRAFIKANTADFAERD UNDER SKAERPET POLITIOVERVAGNING

A study was made of the extent to which increased patrolling is noticed by drivers and how this influences driver behavior. The study was planned as a before- and after-study of a road system with no large urban areas in the northern part of Zealand. In the before-period, traffic data was collected without increased police patrolling activity. Then increased police patrolling was established in the area, and the collection of traffic data was repeated. Among the results of the research the following are noteworthy. The study distinguishes between general changes and specific changes in traffic behaviour. General changes are those which presumably might be caused by the altered patrolling density in the area although this cannot be referred to any special police activity. Specific changes are those which can be reasonably explained by the presence of the police at a certain place, e.g. police patrols waiting at the roadside, or visible speedmeasuring. During the period of incrased patrolling activity, a general change in speeds has been found. General changes, however, in trespassing the illegally, or in passing a "Stop" sign without stopping does not seem to have set in at the places where these censuses were carried out. Besides the general effects there has, within limited areas, been recorded considerable decelerations near parked or just waiting patrol cars. It has been possible to notice these extra modifications of speed at a distance of 3.5 km from the waiting patrol car. The drivers seem to be less affected by waiting motorcycle patrols and by driving intensive patrolling on the road. It is special interest for the evaluation of the actual results of the study that the results have been achieved without employing extra staff to any considerable degree, but on the contrary through a reorganization of the patrols' duty hours and main activities with the two Traffic Police departments involved.

• Corporate Authors:

  Danish Council of Road Safety Research

  1 Anker Engelundsvej, Building 117
  DK-2808 Lyngby,   Denmark 
• Authors:
  • Lund, H V
  • Brodersen, F
  • Jorgensen, N O
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 103 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Behavior; Data collection; Drivers; Interviewing; Law enforcement; Motor vehicles; Police patrol; Speed; Traffic crashes; Traffic speed
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172349
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Rpt. 19
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM