Key points
Law enforcement officers are at risk of motor vehicle-related incidents from many preventable factors. Officers can prevent on-the-job crashes and injuries so they can drive to arrive alive at a scene.
Why it's important
Motor vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement officers in the United States – they are also preventable.1 It is important to promote motor vehicle safety among officers so they can stay safe while working to make communities safer.
Job hazards
There are more than 750,000 state and local (excluding federal) law enforcement officers.3 These officers face many job hazards, including: physical exertion, psychological and organizational stressors, and health issues. Some behavior-related hazards that put officers at risk of a crash or crash-related injury on the job are:
- Not wearing a seat belt
- Speeding, particularly through intersections
- Being distracted while using in-car electronics
- Experiencing tunnel vision from increased stress
What we know
In the last 10 years, on average, an officer per week has been killed on our nation's roads (2014-2023 = 50 deaths per year).1
Motor vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of death for officers. These include crashes and being struck by moving vehicles while on foot.
From 2014-2023, excluding COVID-19 deaths:1
- 1,716 officer line-of-duty deaths
- 342 officer line-of-duty deaths due to vehicle crashes (20% of total)
- 154 officer line-of-duty deaths due to struck-by (9% of total)
- National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund [2024]. Causes of law enforcement deaths
- National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
- Uniform Crime Reporting Program