Introduction

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death nationwide among Americans up to 34 years of age, and the total societal cost of traffic accidents exceeds $150 billion annually.  During each of the last three years, the Burbank Police Department has averaged about 1100 reported traffic accidents per year; almost 500 accidents per year resulted in some type of injury.  An average of six of those accidents resulted in fatalities.  Traffic is also the number one quality of life issue in this city.

The secret to success in traffic safety is the �three E�s� � engineering, education, and enforcement.  While the Burbank Police Department works closely with Public Works to affect engineering, the purpose of this report is to update the Council on traffic education and enforcement efforts.   

BPD Mission 

�The mission of the Burbank Police Department is to work in partnership with the community to achieve positive impacts on crime and traffic, and to provide professional police service in an ethical and courteous manner.�

With that statement in mind, it is incumbent on the Police Department to work together with the community to solve problems, especially with the ever increasing traffic.  This also means active cooperation between the various City departments to monitor traffic trends, establish safety programs for the community, and increase public awareness of the laws that impact drivers and pedestrians.

Educational programs designed to encourage proper driving techniques and pedestrian safety decrease the number of injury and fatal traffic accidents, reduce property damaged in collisions, and minimize the out-of-pocket expenses for traffic fines and the increased cost of insurance premiums.

Education Programs

The Police Department is actively engaged in a number of educational efforts, including:

• Safety School is conducted quarterly on Saturdays, and is open to young people who have been given written invitations to attend (also known as citations.)  Bicycle and pedestrian safety is the primary goal.  Young people, generally 5-13 years old, are given the opportunity to attend this class before they are referred to the juvenile court system, and can participate on multiple occasions.  Each year, hundreds of children and their parents attend these classes.

• The High School Traffic Education program was re-instituted approximately four years ago, and the schools that chose to participate in this program provided very positive feedback.  In the 2002 and 2003 school years, motor officers conducted approximately 25 classes to JBHS and Providence High School students.  Unfortunately, with the increasing demands on curriculum, local schools did not take part in this program during this past school year.

• A valet program was created at several schools to reduce traffic congestion and enhance the safety of the children. 

• Traffic officers make regular appearances on �Street Beat� and at the Community and Youth Academies to help educate the public and answer questions about traffic-related issues.

• A DUI trailer was obtained through a traffic safety grant to provide support at checkpoints and to utilize for educational purposes.

• The Police Department has produced videos on skateboard and scooter operation.  

• Officers staff the traffic awareness booth at the annual Police and Fire Service Day, hand out educational pamphlets to the public, and conduct DUI demonstrations.  This year, the California Highway Patrol assisted by conducting child restraint safety checks. 

• Various traffic safety handouts are available at the front counter of the police station.

• Officers are active participants in the POALAC (Police Officers Association of Los Angeles County) committees for traffic education and enforcement.

Enforcement

• The last line of education is enforcement.  Burbank Police Officers write approximately 19,000 citations each year for moving violations.  The primary reason for a traffic contact is actually to educate the motorist that a traffic law has been violated.  Officers have the discretion to warn or cite a motorist, but studies have shown that increases in citations have an effect on the number of traffic collisions in that area.

• DUI (Driving Under the Influence) checkpoints are conducted about three times per year.  The most asked question after a checkpoint is usually, �How many people did you arrest?�  The actual question should be, �How many people did you educate?�  Handouts containing educational material, courtesy of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), POALAC, and AAA (Automobile Club), are distributed at these checkpoints.

• At least one driver�s license checkpoint is conducted each year in an effort to target unlicensed drivers and drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.  Research shows these checkpoints have an impact on the number of hit and run accidents that occur in an area.

• At least two pedestrian sting operations are conducted each year to increase driver awareness of pedestrian safety.  Plainclothes officers go out into high accident or complaint locations and walk across the street.  Motor officers stop violators who fail to yield to the pedestrian right-of-way.

• The Burbank Police Department participates in at least six task force related enforcement opportunities each year, primarily targeting seatbelts, DUIs, and pedestrian safety.

Educational Opportunities

The Burbank Police Department is currently examining a number of options to enhance public awareness of traffic safety, including:

• Increase the number of safety schools, and encourage more parental involvement.  The classes could be opened to all young people, not just violators who have been issued citations.  Specific dates could be set for these classes, and the cooperation of local bicycle shops could be enlisted to post the dates of these classes for the year.  This would allow new riders to get some training before going out on that new bicycle and possibly getting hurt.

• Reinstate the high school traffic training classes, and encourage all Burbank high schools to be actively involved.  New ways could also be found to reach out to this demographic without intruding on instruction time.  For instance, each of the modernized high schools has a quad area that can be used at lunchtime to interact with young people and disperse safety information.

• Increase appearances on �Street Beat� and other City sponsored programs.  This could be done through actual appearances or through the use of video productions. 

• Take advantage of POALAC public service announcements.  These �ready to go� information pieces can be provided to �Street Beat� and/or the AMC theaters.

• Investigate the possibility of the reinstatement of a traffic related column in the Burbank Leader newspaper.  This could be a regular column or on an �as needed� basis from write in questions.

• Use the City E-mail system to send out traffic related information and safety tips to City employees.

• Combine with AAA for a joint educational program that would include videos and additional handout material. 

Summary

It is the mission and the duty of the Burbank Police Department to find innovative educational and enforcement methods to minimize traffic accidents to protect our community and to increase the quality of life in the city.  The Police Department is engaged in a number of efforts to positively impact the problem.  This is not something that will be a short term commitment.  Long term plans and programs have been established, and will be continually monitored for effectiveness.

Recommendation

Note and file this report.  Routinely monitor the effectiveness of the programs that have been implemented by the Police Department. 

Thomas Hoefel

Police Chief

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