Traffic stops do not prevent traffic deaths.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Amid growing calls for police reform, it is imperative to reassess whether police actions designed to improve public safety are associated with injury prevention. This study aims to examine the relationship between the police traffic stops (PTSs) and motor vehicle crash (MVC) deaths at the state level. We hypothesize that increased PTSs would be associated with reduced MVC deaths.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed PTSs and MVC deaths at the state level from 2004 to 2016. Police traffic stops data were from 33 state patrols from the Stanford Open Policing Project. The MVC deaths data were collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicle miles traveled data were from the Federal Highway Administration Office of Highway Policy Informat

SUBMITTER: Sarode AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8900371 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature