Road Traffic Safety, Prevent Road Users from Being Killed or Seriously Injured - Essay Example

Traffic safety is everybody’s concern. After all, we all go out of our homes everyday, going about the hustle and bustle of life, doing what needs tobe done to survive especially in these times of great economic crises. At the end of the day, of course, it is our goal to safely come back to the comfort of our homes. However, not everyone gets the chance at this. Death lurks in the corner and comes with no warning. It comes in many forms yet the National Center for Health Statistics’ web site reports that traffic accidents are among the top 5 culprits, with the other four being diseases (“Leading Causes”). In 2005 alone, almost 5000 motorcyclists were killed and some 87,000 injured in traffic crashes in the United States. Of the fatal crashes, 50% collided with another motor vehicle in transport (“Motorcycles.”). That’s for motorcycle accidents alone. Car accidents are also very rampant. From teenagers to drunk or old drivers, vehicle-animal crashes and cell phone usage, the list of the causes of vehicular accidents could go on and on. When we were young, we were taught the basics of keeping our lives in the street: look both ways before crossing. However, this is not sufficient anymore. The danger is not only getting hit by a speeding car. We could be the ones behind the wheel. It is for the inevitability of accidents that certain authorities are trained to investigate. Why Investigate? Before going into the process per se, let us first understand what the investigation is for in the first place. The investigation process should eventually result in an accurate, impartial and professional report that will not only determine the cause of the accident, but also provide a record with which one can look upon for future reference as to insurance claims and safety measures. An investigation should at least aim to “protect life and property, prevent further collision, gather evidence to see if a law has been broken, record the facts of the collision, and determine the cause of the collision” (“Traffic Accident Study”). How is it done? Basically, an investigation can be done by observation, interviewing and analysis of the data gathered. Different states and cities just have different SOP. In South Carolina, for example, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office has issued policies that establish how their highway patrol should respond to vehicular accidents. The guidelines included investigation, reporting, protection of collision scene, public safety, traffic law enforcement and public education for collision prevention. The investigation process consists of the collection of information to describe the elements, i.e. people, roads, and vehicles, involved in the collision. The “damage to vehicles and roadside objects, injuries to people, marks and residue on the road, and final positions of vehicles and bodies” (Crenshaw 1), are also to be noted. Furthermore, the policy clearly stated the following steps to be taken by a responding officer: “…(1) Assess the over-all scene... (2) Initially protect the collision scene by proper placement of your vehicle. (3) Identify and administer aid to injured persons... (4) If the scene involves hazardous materials or fire, if not already requested, notify Communications to dispatch the fire department. (5) Establish a safe traffic pattern around the collision. If needed, request additional assistance to reroute traffic. (6) Locate and identify witnesses. Gather witness information, driver information, and vehicle information. (7) Complete South Carolina Traffic Collision Report Form. (8) Note and/or photograph short-lived evidence, such as skid marks and debris. (9) Expedite the removal of vehicles and debris...” (Crenshaw 2). In Minneapolis, the respondents to an accident are directed to “check for evidence that the driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs” (“Traffic Accident Investigation”). If evidence is found, the responding officers shall “take steps to determine the level of impairment, such as field sobriety test, PBT, etc.; and follow with appropriate enforcement action” (“Traffic Accident Investigation”). The directives in Minneapolis are more or less the same as that mentioned earlier in South Carolina. However, in Minneapolis, more specific guidelines are given. For fatal or critical injury investigations, more paperwork is required. Documents required for these accidents are the Minnesota Traffic Accident and State Fatality Report; Minneapolis Police Department Offense/Incident Report; Investigating officers statement; statements from all assisting officers, vehicle operators involved, all passengers and witnesses; photographs of the scene, damage and evidence; scale diagram of final accident scene; results of chemical testing of vehicle operators; printouts of vehicle registrations and drivers licenses of all parties involved; and tow sheets, property inventories, and other reports (“Traffic Accident Investigation”). There is also a separate section for hit and run accidents. Officers responding to this type of accident should try to “broadcast a description of the hit and run vehicle and driver as soon as possible. Hit and run vehicles located during the investigation, in plain view, shall be towed to the city Impound Lot. Vehicles located in secured areas may not be towed or searched without a search warrant” (“Traffic Accident Investigation”). In Denver, investigation follows the same suit as South Carolina and Minneapolis in that an examination of the scene, together with the physical injuries and the damage to the involved vehicles, surrounding property, etc., is the foremost step. Scene examination starts at the final position, i.e. the place where the objects involved in a traffic accident finally come to rest (“Chapter 8”). Events that led to the accident and the path taken by the vehicle prior to the accident can be deduced through the debris and/or broken parts from the vehicles, while skid marks show position and direction of travel, evasive action or unlawful behavior (“Denver Police”). Evidence is then identified and secured, together with a diagram which is used to present a pictorial description of the narrative portion of the report for fatal, critical, hit-and-run, and some other special cases. Statements from drivers and witnesses are also taken. What next? After the initial investigation, the responding officer may still be required to collection off-scene data, obtaining formal statements from witnesses, preparing formal reports for use in court, and present information to a collision reconstructionist (Crenshaw 3). The responding officers also have the responsibility to determine any violation of the law, which after all is the main objective of the investigation. He will also initiate appropriate court action based on his analysis of the information and evidence gathered. If there is sufficient information and evidence, charges will be filed against the party at fault. Otherwise, the report will be considered closed until new evidence becomes available. Prevention As far as the investigation is concerned, traffic investigators are trained not only to conduct the steps we have discussed but also to use the reports as bases for improvement of the traffic system. They must conduct further studies and recommend development plans to the proper authorities of the state. The Traffic Accident Study Guide aptly states the three Es towards accident reduction - Education, Engineering and Enforcement. Education. Through careful analysis of traffic accident reports, problems can be determined and solutions can be worked out. Engineering. Traffic related structures must be engineered and maintained for safety. Enforcement. “Enforcement may be the most obvious attempt at accident reduction to the general public. This may be as simple as a pin map showing areas of frequent accidents or graphic representations of accidents by severity, location day and time” (“Traffic Accident Study”). As the nature of accidents is that it is inevitable, the best thing we can do is to constantly have our vehicles checked. It must be everybody’s concern to ensure that our vehicles are in mint condition. This should be everybody’s first line of defense. Works Cited “Chapter 8 Responsibilities.” globalsecurity.org. 27 April 2005. Global Security. 10 November 2008 Crenshaw, David L. Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. General Order – 224 Traffic Collision Investigation. South Carolina: 01 June 2006. Denver Police Department Operations Manual. Denver: Denver Police Department, 2006. “Motorcycles.” Traffic Safety Facts 2005 Data. 2005: 1-6. 12 November 2008 . “Leading Causes of Death.” cdc.gov. 11 April 2008. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 12 November 2008 . “Traffic Accident Investigation Procedures.” Official Web Site of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minneapolis Business Information Services. 10 November 2008 . Traffic Accident Study Guide. Read More