A selective traffic enforcement program. linked with advance investigation skills, can substantially reduce personal injury accidents on park district roads.

By Kenneth D. Weir

Automobiles are the typical way most people get to our park and recreation facilities. The Peoria Park District has had a steady increase in both commuter and recreational traffic at all parks, especially as the district expands into more suburban and rural areas. In late 1982 and 1983, the park district police were also beginning to notice a related increase in both property loss and bodily injury due to motor vehicle accidents.

Traffic control

A major goal in 1984 was to reduce motor vehicle accident rates on park roads. This was accomplished with a two-part Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

A review of 1982 and 1983 police reports showed that traffic accidents with personal injury and extensive property damage were occurring in three parks. A second analysis of these reports indicated that excessive speed was the most common cause of the accidents.

Successful tools

The park police have found that stationary Radio Detecting and Ranging (RADAR) units from marked squad cars are most effective in controlling excessive speed on park roads. The initial outlay for each RADAR unit is high, but we have found the stationary units to be reliable in heavy day-to-day use. Also, stationary RADAR is not susceptible to some of the court challenges raised against speed monitoring by a moving patrol car.

The marked squad car gives the park officers an additional tool of being readily identifiable. Probably, these marked vehicles slow down park traffic even when they are not actually engaged in traffic control.

An auxiliary battery pack allows the RADAR to be operated by park police motorcycles or, if necessary, on foot. The RADAR units are factory-calibrated, and these records are kept on file if the need arises for them during court testimony.

The focus on speed limit enforcement has increased speeding citations from 247 in 1982 to 477 in 1984. With in-service training in traffic control at the Central Illinois Police Training Center, successful "not guilty" pleas are rare.

Police training

The Illinois Local Government Law Enforcement Officers Training Board (ILGLEOTB) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) assisted the park district police with the second phase of the accident reduction effort. The park police were granted funds for training from the Police Traffic Services Training Project.

This grant paid 100 percent of all tuition, book and material costs for six separate classes. The grant also repaid 50 percent of all lodging and food costs. All attending officers agreed to pay one half of the amounts for training which were not reimbursed. The park police, therefore,

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 7                                                         July/August 1985

gained extensive traffic services awareness with an outlay of only one quarter of an officer's food and lodging costs.

During 1984 the park police attended the following classes:

• Traffic Accident Record and Analysis,

• Selective Traffic Law Enforcement — The Operational Level,

• At-Scene Accident Investigation and

• Technical Accident Investigation.

These courses allowed police officers to professionally examine the records of traffic accidents in the parks. The results of this analysis reinforced our belief that STEP had identified specific violations and geographical locations.

The courses also allowed the park police to identify causes of traffic accidents and suggest corrective measures. Correct court presentation of evidence and testimony show the park officer in a professional light.

Basic equipment

Each patrol vehicle is equipped with basic accident investigation tools such as tape measures, simple cameras and marking chalk. The technical accident team is on call for serious accidents.

Technical accident investigation extends to speed-skid, tire-wheel and vehicle-lamp analyses. The Traffic Institute at Northwestern University produces the materials that assist in in-depth investigations.

The STEP plan, in conjunction with increased investigative skills, has decreased the number of people injured in traffic accidents in Peoria parks. In 1982 there were a total of 42 accidents with 12 persons sustaining enough injury to require hospital care. By 1983 this total had increased to 52 accidents with nine people being transported to hospitals.

In 1984 the Peoria Park Police investigated 37 accidents. Only five people required hospital attention.

This program of ocusing on enforcement and investigation has reduced personal injury accidents by 50 percent. The STEP plan has been successful in making the Peoria parks safer places to visit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kenneth D. Weir has been chief of park police at the Peoria Park District since March, 1982. He has a Masters in Education degree from Cleveland State University and is working on a Masters in Public Administration degree at Sanga-mon State University, Springfield, IL.

Property damage accidents are those where park or private property is damaged, but there is no injury to anyone involved. Park injury accidents are those where someone — pedestrian or auto occupant — is injured seriously enough to be transported to a hospital.

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 8                                                         July/August 1985