Surprisingly , however , having a colleague hurt or killed in a ‘ collision ’ was not linked to officers use of seat belts .
Increased officer experience was also identified as a very strong indicator officers ’ use of seat belts . Focus group discussions clarified this by reporting the individual ’ s experience , not their age , was a better predictor of less risky behavior .
Supervisor enforcement of policy regarding the use of cell phones when operating the patrol vehicle was unrelated to seat belt usage .
In closing , researchers offered several recommendations for leaders to improve seat belt usage by officers .
• Create an environment where officers feel they are treated fairly , have an opportunity to be engaged in organizational decision making , and will be held accountable for wearing seatbelts .
• Conduct a formal debriefing for every collision officers are involved , regardless of the seriousness of the incident .
• Implement the use of training programs that focus on traffic-related dangers officers face as well as the consequences of the collisions .
• Include on-duty collisions as part of agency early warning system .
• Supported the use of psychological and background screenings of candidates for employment . In particular , the propensity for risk and instances of civilian-involved collisions should be evaluated .
Scott Wolfe , Spencer G . Lawson , Jeff Rojeck , and Geoffrey Alpert , “ Predicting Police Officer Seat Belt Use : Evidence-Based Solutions to Improve Officer Driving Safety ”, Police Quarterly , Vol . 23 ( 4 ) 2020 , pp . 472-499 .
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