Harnessing Existing Technologies to Mitigate Driving Distraction Among Law Enforcement Officers, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming, 2019 (ICPSR 38994)
Version Date: Jun 29, 2026 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
David A. Noyce, University of Wisconsin-Madison
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR38994.v1
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
Nearly half of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the United States were due to automobile crashes. Driver distraction has been identified as a common causal factor leading to the crash, with the primary source of distractions being the mobile computer. While there is plenty of literature on officer safety, what is lacking is an understanding of the needs of the officers to interact with the control or communication equipment while driving and how that interaction impacts distraction and, consequently, officer safety. To examine these issues, the research team conducted focus group discussions with law enforcement officers from local, county, and state agencies in four states. The two primary topics of discussion were:
- Officer requirements to operate different pieces of equipment while driving, and
- Different software and systems being used in patrol cars.
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Access to these data is restricted. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete a Restricted Data Use Agreement, specify the reason for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research.
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Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The objectives of this study were to assess the tasks engaged in by officers with different systems while driving and to identify possible interventions to mitigate distractions.
Study Design View help for Study Design
Lakeside Engineers collaborated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct four focus group discussions between October and November 2019. A total of 27 law enforcement officers from local, county, and state agencies in Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming participated in the focus groups. Additional research planned for this study could not be conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Law enforcement officers from local, county, and state agencies in Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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