In the article on an increase in traffic deaths, there was one significant point missing from the reasons for the increases. The three “E’s” of investigating collisions are Education, Engineering and Enforcement. The education of drivers and the engineering of most roads hasn’t changed in the past year and a half, but enforcement by law enforcement has because of both the pandemic and the public’s decreasing support of law enforcement.
There is a misguided public perception that police officers making traffic stops leads to people dying because of the stop. There is no such direct link, and there are many unfortunate reasons why people have been killed during traffic stops. The lack of enforcement and the public knowing that fact have resulted in greater risks by drivers, especially speeding, and aggressive and reckless driving, all of which contribute to deaths. Some agencies have even removed certain traffic violations from being enforced. Traffic enforcement is as important as education and engineering when it comes to public safety.
