In April, staff launched the SAFE Driving News Alert which has already gained almost 2,000 subscribers. The News Alert is specific to the SAFE Driving Campaign and provides recipients with links to training materials, news articles, research studies, videos, and other information.
A Motorcycle Subcommittee has been added to the VOTAC. Its focus is the advancement of best policy and training practices for law enforcement motor officers.
The “Did You Know” video on SAFE Driving and seatbelt use has been viewed over 18,000 times on the POST webpage and downloaded in excess of 800 times. It has been incorporated into a number of in-service drivers training programs within California and nationally. A second “Did You Know” video on SAFE Driving and vehicle speed was completed and placed on the POST webpage in mid-May.
Members of the VOTAC are working in close collaboration with the Learning Domain (LD) 19 Pilot Advisory Council to enhance the driver training curriculum in the Regular Basic Course.
The general manager for the California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority made an informative and well-received presentation at the May SAFE Driving Campaign meeting. He has agreed to join SAFE as a sitting member of the Advisory Board.
The Campaign is finalizing a SAFE Driving Pledge which will be used to promote organizational commitment to reducing officer deaths and injuries resulting from vehicle collisions.
The Research Team continues to report progress. Updates on each study are as follows:
Fatigue and Distraction Study – This study is jointly funded by POST and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Due to additionalfunding by the ONR, the 80 police-officer subjects in the study will go through a second round of experiments where they will be equipped with optical brain imaging devices that will provide measurements for assessing how fatigue may affect performance. This information will be useful for agencies to consider when assessing scheduling and deployment models. A pilot study has been completed and the experiment design has been validated.
Agency Culture Study - More than 75 hours of interviews have been completed at Northern California agencies. Transcriptions were completed and analysis is underway. Southern California agencies are being schedule for interviews later this year.
Agency Policy and Culture Study - This study, funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is being coordinated with the Agency Culture Study above. Complimentary surveys and interview instruments will be used in a different set of agencies to allow for broad comparisons. Statistical analysis is being designed to correlate collision rates to policy and culture.
Epidemiological Study - This study, funded by POST, is analyzing DMV, CHP SWITRS, and POST Training information for trends. It will be completed by early-2013.
State Regulation Study -
This study analyzes the impact of state rules and regulations on statewide officer-involved fatal collision rates. Surveys of state POST directors and Highway Patrol commissioners/colonels have been completed. Results are expected later this year.