What do we know about law enforcement officer crashes?
In the last 10 years, on average, an officer per week has been killed on our nation’s roads (2010-2019 = 53 deaths per year).1 Most years, motor vehicle-related incidents — including crashes and being struck by moving vehicles while on foot — are the main cause of death for officers. 2016 was an anomaly in that motor vehicle-related deaths came second to firearms.
From 2010-2019:1
From 2010-2019:1
- 1,558 officer line-of-duty deaths
- 393 officer line-of-duty deaths due to vehicle crashes (25% of total)
- 132 officer line-of-duty deaths due to being struck by a vehicle (8% of total)
What job hazards do law enforcement officers face?
There are more than 750,000 state and local (excluding federal) law enforcement officers. These officers face many job hazards, including: physical exertion, psychological and organizational stressors, and health issues. Some behavior-related hazards that put officers at risk of a crash on the job are:
- Not wearing a seat belt
- Speeding, particularly through intersections
- Being distracted while using a mobile data terminal or other electronic device while driving
- Experiencing tunnel vision from increased stress
The Fundamental Elements of DriveApps for Cops
|
Cognition: Driving cognition includes being trained on how to observe the driving environment to identify potential hazards, establishing a viable baseline of what is normal and abnormal, moving potential hazard observation from the conscious into the subconscious.
|
The Core Apps for Cops
|
|
|
|
Commentary Driving: Commentary Driving is perhaps the most important of the nine core DriveApps. Here you will be scored, in five scenarios, to provide an audible running commentary of everything you observe that relates to your driving universe. Studies have shown that 80 hours of commentary driving can increase a young driver's relative level of experience by approximately seven years.
|
Abnormalities: Abnormalities refers to a driver's perception of what in the driving universe is abnormal versus normal. Abnormal situations trigger a conscious and subconscious reaction relative to taking steps to avoid potential accident situations. Where drivers over time evolve a "baseline" of abnormalities, DriveApps provides training to greatly accelerate baseline development.
|
Distracted Driving: Distracted driving gets the most press of any aspect of safe driving. Cell phones have greatly increased the incidence of distracted driving, although there have always been many ways to be distracted. This app provides a full presentation of distracted driving, and helps the user, through simulated real world experiences, understand its seriousness.
|
Scan Range: Scan range refers to where the driver is looking. This app teaches the fundamentals mirror use, where and how to look forward, and what to be observing. Fun simulated scenarios help users develop good habits for "eyes on the road". Users will also experience the challenges of blind spots, as well as get a feel for when and where other drivers, including trucks, can't see them.
|
Separation, Speed and Braking Distance: Separation, aka following distance, refers to distance from vehicles ahead and behind. Speed and braking distance refers to the physics of speed as it relates to braking distance and reaction time. Simulated driving scenarios allow users to learn proper fundamentals and experience the effects of poor execution with respect to tailgating and reacting to unexpected obstacles.
|
Knuckleheads: Every experienced driver knows there are many types of knuckleheads on the road. The situational awareness and abnormality baselines of young drivers can be advanced through an understanding of the dangerous things other drivers can potentially do. A series of driving scenarios are presented in which "knuckleheads" are presented to enable the learner to understand how to discern potential knuckleheads.
|
Special Conditions: Users will be placed in driving scenarios with more challenging conditions with respect to the outside environment such as darkness, wind, fog, rain, snow, and ice. Irregular vehicle conditions are replicated, such as incorrect tire pressure. Irregular road conditions are replicated such as a low shoulder, construction anomalies and lane closures, and distressed vehicles.
|
Skid Control: Skid control is a key aspect of driving related to road conditions, speeding, and vehicle anomalies, as well as the concepts of oversteer, understeer, traction control, and automated braking. Through this app, users are placed in driving situations where they can learn the fundamentals of dealing with all of these interrelated factors including in potential accident situations.
|
Crash Avoidance: The Crash Avoidance app emulates and educates about driving situations what overlap with the Skid Control app, and then takes the education and driving exercises for crash avoidance into numerous further fundamentals. Users are taught to mentally form a "safety bubble" around their vehicle, and how to apply the fundamentals from the prior apps to make them truly safe drivers.
|
The DriveApps.Live Add-ons
Eye Tracking App and Sensor: Includes the eye tracker hardware and a PC/Mac simulation game in which users compete to accomplish optimal scan lines in driving via multiple driving scenarios.
|
Desktop Driving Simulator: A well priced home desktop driving simulator setup for use with one's home PC. Comes with expanded PC/Mac version of DriveApps.Live driving simulation game.
|
Desktop Driving Simulator Plus: A higher end home desktop driving simulator setup for use with one's home PC. Comes with expanded PC/Mac version of DriveApps.Live driving simulation game.
|
Static Driving Simulator: Base static simulator chassis with driving controls, seat, and monitor. VR, computer and soundbar optional. Comes with expanded DriveApps.Live Drive sim game.
|
Motion Driving Simulator: Full motion simulator with controls, computer, monitors, soundbar, seat and optional VR. Includes expanded DriveApps home sim or commercial software.
|
FAAC High End Simulator:
|
The DriveApps.Live Community
Insurance: Everything you need to get introduced to carefully vetted auto insurance companies, compare rates and incentives, and learn about special concessions.
|
Vehicles: Get introduced to every make and available new and used law enforcement vehicle and dealers. Access safety information, find the best deals.
|
Driving Schools: Get introduced to carefully vetted advanced driving schools for law enforcement, learn about the programs, and access data.
|
Parts and Service: Get introduced to the best sources for typical parts and service needs, and learn the basics of understanding how to properly maintain your police cruiser.
|
Testimonials: See informative testimonials from law enforcement officers, experts, celebrities, and insurance and auto companies, and auto companies. Share experiences
|
Forums and Communities: Learn about, join, and participate in forums and communities for law enforcement officers. Share experiences and learn about the experiences of others.
|
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
Motor vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement officers in the United States – they are also preventable.1 From 2006-2019, 809 officers died due to motor vehicle related incidents (struck by and crashes) – 43% of all line-of-duty deaths (National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund). It is important to promote motor vehicle safety among officers so they can stay safe while working to make communities safer.