Garner Police Department Annual Report 2018 Published July 2019 | Page 15

T raffic S afety I nformation
T
RAFFIC SAFETY IS ONE METHOD that
the Garner Police Department uses for
reducing the risks associated with motor
vehicle crashes and incidents. The traffic safety
team aggressively enforces the motor vehicle
laws, provides citizen education, and seeks
voluntary compliance to improve the safety of the
motoring public. The Garner Police Department
participates in numerous local and regional traffic
safety checkpoints throughout our community
supporting the Wake County Traffic Safety Task
Force. The traffic safety program is focused on
addressing all safety violations related to the
operation of a motor vehicle. Not all traffic stops
will end with a citation; in fact, only 23% of the
department’s traffic stops in 2018 resulted in the
driver being issued a citation.
The traffic safety program is heavily involved
in educating the community. The department
partners with Garner Magnet High School in
an anti-texting campaign, Click it or Ticket,
and through participation in the Public Safety
Academy. Fatal Vision Goggles combined with
the DWI golf cart allows for simulated intoxicated
driving scenarios for students at the high school as
well. Child-seat installations and inspections occur
periodically with an appointment based system.
The appointment based system allows our officers
to give a parent dedicated time to ensure that the
child seat is correctly installed.
The Garner Police Department remains committed
to the pursuit of traffic safety by partnering with
the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP).
GHSP’s main focus is to reduce alcohol related
crashes, gain seat belt compliance, promote
motorycle safety, and conduct speed enforcement
through various campaigns such as “Booze it and
Lose it”, “Click it or Ticket,” and “BikeSafe” to
help raise awareness.”
TRAFFIC CRASH DATA
The Garner Police Department investigated 1,442
traffic crashes in 2018, up from 1,408 in 2017. Of
those crashes, 254 reported personal injury, an
increase from the 252 reporting injury in 2017.
There were three fatal crashes in 2018 up from
two in 2017. The chart below shows the traffic
crash history for the past five years with a current
average of 1,356. Crashes in 2018 were 7% above
average.
T raffic C rashes
2,000
1,500
1,202
1,368 1,353 1,407 1,450
2015 2016 2017 2018
1,000
500
0
2014
The highest number of reported crashes occurred
on Friday and the fewest number of crashes
occurred on Sundays.
TRAFFIC CITATION DATA
In 2018, the Garner Police Department issued a
total of 2,770 traffic citations or written warnings.
This was a 57% decrease from the 6,463 written
in 2017. The decrease in traffic enforcement can
be attributed to unexpected vacancies and that
those traffic safety positions were not filled for
most of 2018.
It is important to note that in North Carolina,
32% of all traffic fatalities in 2017 were related
to speeding (source: NCDMV), and we remain
committed to enforcing speed limits. Garner
officers issued speeding citations to 536 drivers
in 2018.
The Garner Police Department remains dedicated
to the pursuit of traffic safety through both
education and enforcement. We will continue
to work collaboratively with citizens and other
government agencies to encourage safe motor
vehicle operation through defensive driving and
voluntary compliance with traffic laws as well as
strict enforcement efforts.
GARNER POLICE DEPARTMENT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
15