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When we talk about officer safety, our minds often go straight to firearms and physical confrontations — but one of the deadliest threats doesn’t come from an armed suspect. It comes from traffic. Every year, roadway incidents rank among the top causes of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement. And while the risk is constant, many agencies still approach this hazard with outdated training, inconsistent protocols and little coordination across departments.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Jack Sullivan, Director of Training for the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, to discuss the state of roadside safety for law enforcement officers. Sullivan, a veteran in the field of traffic incident management, shares alarming statistics, real-world stories and actionable strategies to reduce risks — from engineering fixes and digital alerting systems to cross-agency coordination.
Tune in to discover:
- Why law enforcement officers are more likely than not to be involved in a vehicle crash during their career
- The fatal consequences of ignoring the “D drivers”: drunk, drugged, distracted, drowsy and dangerous
- Why outdated emergency lighting and infotainment systems in civilian vehicles can create lethal distractions
- How digital alerting and improved scene management can shift the odds in your favor
- The vital role of regional Traffic Incident Management committees in reducing struck-by incidents and increasing interagency coordination
Officer safety resources
- Annual Struck-by-vehicle fatality reports
- Report struck by incidents here: www.ReportStruckBy.com
- Studies about emergency lighting and high-visibility graphics
- Responder Safety Learning Network offers free online training modules
- Free training videos and PSAs for use in public education and social media content
Key takeaways from this episode
- Crashes are common — and deadly: Most officers will be involved in at least one significant crash during their career. Between 2017 and 2021, 87 officers were killed in struck-by incidents — 29 while at a crash scene, 17 during traffic stops, and 14 while deploying devices like spike strips.
- ‘D’ drivers are everywhere: The majority of struck-by incidents involve drivers who are drunk, drugged, distracted, drowsy or otherwise dangerous. Modern infotainment systems, cell phones and fatigue all contribute to the problem.
- Better warning tools are needed: While flares and emergency lights help, many motorists aren’t paying attention. Digital alerting systems, which trigger in-vehicle audio messages when responders activate their lights, offer a powerful way to alert distracted drivers.
- Environment matters: Poor lighting, hazardous road design and high-speed crossovers significantly increase risk. Agencies need to work with DOTs and local traffic engineers to identify and mitigate high-risk zones.
- Training and teamwork make a difference: The 4-hour National TIM training is just the beginning. Agencies should incorporate annual, region-specific traffic safety training and coordinate via Traffic Incident Management (TIM) committees that include police, fire, EMS, DOT and towing personnel.
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