Public Safety Training Institute's Law Enforcement Driver Training Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

Luzerne County Community College will utilize fiscal year 2008 Congressionally Mandated Award funds to implement a pilot project that will examine the impact of a crash avoidance driver-training program on the reduction of accidents, time loss, and damage to department vehicles. The objective for the pilot will be to improve the driving abilities of police officers resulting in savings to officers, departments, municipalities, and better officer responsiveness. Six departments will be selected from a 10 county region in Northeastern Pennsylvania to participate in the pilot project. Police officers with the highest frequency of accidents and/or injuries from vehicle mishaps will be selected for the training program. Each officer will receive instruction and exercises utilizing a driving simulator, Skid Car system, and a road course. The officers will be given a pre and post test exercise on each of the systems. After 12 months, officers will return for another assessment utilizing these same methods. Departments will also be asked to provide a report documenting any accidents, time loss, and damage to department vehicles experienced by the officer over a 6, 12, and 18 month period. The grant will fund the purchase of pilot project equipment. The equipment will be one station law enforcement driving simulator, a skid car system, and two used police vehicles.

NCA/NCF