WHEREAS, the Highway Safety Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) endorses the mission of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a nationwide, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way; and

WHEREAS, the IACP at its 99th Convention in 1992 adopted a resolution on trespassing on railroad property and a Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Model Policy; and

WHEREAS, violating highway-rail grade crossing warning signs and signals and/or trespassing upon railroad property are illegal acts that should not be condoned in any way; and

WHEREAS, media coverage of or advertisements depicting persons disregarding crossing warning signs and signals and/or trespassing and illegal train riding has tended to romanticize rather than condemn these acts; and

WHEREAS, the injuries and deaths that result from failing to heed warning signs and signals at highway-rail crossings and/or from trespassing upon railroad property are avoidable; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP Highway Safety Committee reaffirms its safety partnership with Operation Lifesaver, Inc., by 1) promoting educational efforts designed to increase caution at highway-rail grade crossings, and discouraging trespassing upon railroad property; 2) actively assisting railroad police agencies in removing trespassers on railroad property; and 3) discouraging and condemning media coverage or advertisements which are counterproductive to these efforts; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, in the pursuit of the safety goals stated above, that IACP will encourage its members to become involved with OLI as presenters, and to further disseminate OLI's lifesaving messages to school groups, community, business, and civic organizations throughout North America.

WHEREAS, the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the states, to develop a uniform system to support the electronic transmission of data state-to-state on convictions for all motor vehicle traffic control law violations by individuals possessing commercial drivers’ licenses; and WHEREAS, to ensure the value of the information contained in such a system, all states must participate and input accurate and complete data; and WHEREAS, to comply with the requirements of the Act and ensure all violation information is available, states that have diversionary programs, allow for the withholding of adjudication of offenses or otherwise “mask” violations, would be required to input this information into the system; and WHEREAS, the existing Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) already contains valuable information relating to the status of a driver’s operating privilege, violation and crash histories; and WHEREAS, the availability, maintenance and transfer of information relating to the drug and alcohol testing history of commercial drivers is haphazard at best and needs to be improved; and WHEREAS, the development of a National Register of Commercial Drivers that combines all of this information into a single accurate, timely, complete, and immediately available source will have a positive impact on highway safety, and WHEREAS, making this information also available to the industry would assist motor carriers in their hiring and safety monitoring efforts; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the IACP supports the development of, and state participation in, a National Register of Commercial Drivers, to be available to licensing agencies, enforcement and the motor carrier industry and that includes, for all commercial drivers, an “unmasked” record of convictions for all motor vehicle traffic law violations, drug and alcohol testing information, plus the information currently contained in CDLIS, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP encourage the nations of Canada and Mexico to adopt a similar register available to licensing agencies, enforcement and the motor carrier industry of the United States of America, as well as to their own countries.

WHEREAS, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued Safety Standard Nos. 223 and 224, Rear Impact Guards and Rear Impact Protection, single unit trucks were not included; and

WHEREAS, NHTSA cited an under-representation of rear-end collisions involving this type of vehicle, and reasoned that their immediate inclusion in the Safety Standards would not have a substantial positive impact upon safety and would place an undue economic burden on the trucking industry; and

WHEREAS, a significant number of fatalities still occur as a result of a vehicle colliding with the rear end of a single unit truck; and

WHEREAS, due to the vague rear end protection requirements that currently exist for single unit trucks, it is often questionable as to whether the existing protection devices are properly placed or substantial enough to prevent under-ride, or the protection is so rigid that little or no energy absorbing deformation would occur upon impact; and

WHEREAS, extending Safety Standard Nos. 223 and 224 to include single unit trucks will enhance safety by ensuring effective under-ride protection and energy absorbing rear impact guards exist in the event of a rear end collision with one of these vehicles; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP support the inclusion of single unit trucks into Safety Standard Nos. 223 and 224, Rear Impact Guards and Rear Impact Protection, and petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure this is accomplished.

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently has safety standards relating to new and retreaded tires for passenger cars and new tires for trucks, but has not addressed retreaded tires for trucks; and

WHEREAS, previous attempts to petition NHTSA to issue this safety standard have been unsuccessful; and

WHEREAS, there continues to be a noticeable increase in the frequency of separated rubber tread and casings from commercial vehicle tires observed on the highways; and

WHEREAS, a significant number of traffic crashes and injuries have been identified as being caused by other vehicles striking commercial vehicle tire rubber on the highway; and

WHEREAS, police officers and maintenance personnel are placed in a vulnerable position when removing this debris from the highway; and

WHEREAS, the motor carrier industry experiences huge variances in the reliability and life of properly maintained retreaded tires obtained from different manufacturers; and

WHEREAS, a University of Michigan study showed approximately 60 percent of tire scraps collected nationwide were from retreads; and

WHEREAS, the efforts of the Federal Highway Administration to address this issue with the industry have been unsuccessful in alleviating the problem; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP supports the development and adoption of a safety standard for retreaded tires for trucks, and petitions the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure that this is accomplished.

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation has established a national goal for impaired driving that calls for the decrease in numbers and percentage of alcohol and drug related highway crashes and fatalities; and

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has determined that the national goal may not be met unless an assertive effort is made to train police officers in detecting, apprehending, and convicting the impaired drivers; and WHEREAS, a NHTSA study revealed that for every DWI violator arrested, there are between 500 and 2,000 undetected violators; and

WHEREAS, in a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) study, police officers failed to detect 78 percent of the DWI violators; and WHEREAS, of the 45,555 people killed in traffic crashes in 1989, an estimated 49 percent (22,415) died in alcohol-related crashes; and

WHEREAS, the NHTSA model curriculum of DWI Detection and Standardization Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) training was developed to provide instruction on the fundamental tasks that make up DWI enforcement, and identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes police officers need to perform these tasks well; and,

WHEREAS, the major strength of this program is that it establishes standardized training throughout the country and thus provides a verifiable record of success with both the DWI arresting officers and the courts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police supports and encourages the certification and adoption of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety (SFST) curriculum, or its equivalent, by the state agencies responsible for peace officer standards and training and that the curriculum be used at both the required recruit and in-service police officer training levels.

WHEREAS, front seat air bags have been instrumental in saving countless lives of victims of motor vehicle crashes; and

WHEREAS, the potential dangers that do exist with air bags can be overcome through better education and technology, i.e., cut off switches; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, opposes the complete disconnection of air bag systems and supports the use of cut-off switches when coupled with a warning light or other device as an option to those vehicle passengers to whom an air bag may pose a danger; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP encourages all members to participate in educational programs promoting the correct use of all of the vehicle’s safety devices and encourages the enactment of legislation that would mandate cut-off switches for those vehicles that have no other seating options, other than the front seat, for children.

WHEREAS, aggressive driving is widely recognized as a serious problem by both the criminal justice community and the public at large; and

WHEREAS, aggressive driving involves selfish, bold or pushy conduct and disregard for the safety or rights of other users of the street or highway; and

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that highway deaths increased across the nation to 41,907 in 1996 from 41,798 in 1995, more deaths than were caused by firearms or drugs; and

WHEREAS, since 1987 the number of miles of roads across this country has increased by only one percent, while the miles driven on those roads increased by 35 percent, indicating that the problem of highway congestion is only going to worsen; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to undertake dedicated anti-aggressive driving activities to counteract the effects of this growing problem, incorporating new technology, specialized enforcement efforts and a coordinated public information and education component; and

WHEREAS, there is also a need to undertake measures to effectively educate both the general public and the target group as to the dangers of aggressive driving; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, encourages all members to adopt or expand existing enforcement and education programs which combat the deadly problem of aggressive driving; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the federal and state governments be encouraged to provide financial support to law enforcement agencies, for the express purpose of expanding the activities and programs those agencies undertake to combat this newest threat to highway safety in the United States.

WHEREAS, Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demonstrates that running red lights and other traffic controls is the most frequent type of urban motor vehicle crash (where the crash produces an injury); and

WHEREAS, Motorists are highly likely to be injured in crashes involving red light running because many such crashes involve a side impact to one of the vehicles where occupant protection is less substantial, or to pedestrians who are unprotected; and

WHEREAS, The severity of property damage due to vehicle intrusion and deformation causes enormous annual losses; and

WHEREAS, Department of Transportation studies show that red light running is a frequent event, with one community study showing, on average, a motorist running a red light every 12 minutes; and

WHEREAS, Traditional traffic law enforcement techniques often require an officer to follow the offender through a red light, making such enforcement difficult and dangerous in urban areas; and

WHEREAS, According to the Australian Ministry of Transportation, red light cameras have been shown to reduce violations and crashes, producing a 32% decrease in right-angle collisions and a 10% reduction in injuries after the cameras were installed in Victoria, Australia, and have shown to be effective in a number of communities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The American public strongly believes that red light running is a major traffic safety problem and also strongly supports the use of red light cameras. According to a survey conducted by the Insurance Institute, Seventy-seven percent of northern Virginians polled rated red light running as a problem, with forty-seven percent saying it was a big problem, and thirty percent as a medium; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, supports the use of red light cameras at intersections for more effective and efficient traffic law enforcement, in conjunction with normal enforcement efforts, as well as the adoption of the necessary legislative and administrative measures to facilitate their use; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the IACP will encourage state and local governments to use the cameras in locations where they will most effectively supplement traditional law enforcement efforts.

WHEREAS, The safety of transporting children to and from school is a paramount issue for law enforcement administrators; and

WHEREAS, The installation of passenger restraints in school buses has been an issue of concern; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, recommend to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a complete and definitive study be conducted to determine whether there is a compelling safety value in such installations.

WHEREAS, Radar and lidar detectors and other speed detection avoidance devices have only one purpose which is not in the best interest of highway safety; and

WHEREAS, The use of these devices allows vehicle operators to avoid detection by law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Drivers utilizing these devices cause a danger to the motoring public by traveling at excessive speeds; and

WHEREAS, The banning of radar detectors will help prevent excessive vehicle speeds, crashes, injuries and deaths on our highways; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, encourage lobbying for legislation at the state level to ban radar and lidar detectors in all vehicles.

WHEREAS, Half of the trucks in fatal and non-fatal crashes are tractors pulling semi-trailers; and

WHEREAS, Most truck crashes occur in good weather, during the day, and on weekends; and

WHEREAS, Passenger vehicle drivers are more frequently cited by law enforcement in fatal crashes involving a light passenger vehicle and a large truck; and

WHEREAS, A common goal of law enforcement and the trucking industry is to increase the safety of the nation’s roadways; and

WHEREAS, Through law enforcement/trucking industry partnerships, public information and education efforts focused on motor carrier safety more people will be informed about safe driving techniques in a diverse traffic environment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, encourages all members to adopt or expand existing enforcement programs to combat violations of traffic laws; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the IACP encourages all members to participate in the United States Department of Transportation’s No-Zone Campaign to educate the motoring public about truck safety dynamics and sharing the highway with commercial vehicles.

WHEREAS, it is a known fact that impaired drivers are a leading cause of highway crashes, causing loss of life and personal injury; and

WHEREAS, due to the effort of law enforcement officers nationwide, the incidence of impaired drivers has markedly decreased; and

WHEREAS, as a result of enforcement action and training of the nation’s law enforcement officers in impaired driver detection efforts, untold lives have been saved and injuries prevented; and

WHEREAS, the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is the probable cause standard used to arrest impaired drivers; and WHEREAS, the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test is an integral part of the SFST; and

WHEREAS, the HGN Test has an accuracy rate of 92%; and WHEREAS, the HGN Test is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and professionals in the field of optometry; and

WHEREAS, the courts of eleven states have ruled the HGN Test inadmissible without accompanying testimony from a medical expert; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, supports without qualification the position that the HGN Test has gained general acceptance within the scientific community when used to qualify the presence of alcohol or drugs: That HGN is reliable when administered correctly by a properly trained police officer; and can be admitted as evidence, without additional expert testimony in a court of law after confronting and individual based upon probable cause and after administering additional field tests to determine intoxication; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that NHTSA be encouraged to establish the scientific basis for HGN in those states that currently do not recognize properly trained police officers as qualified to present HGN as evidence.