For the past 13 years, traffic-related incidents have been the highest cause of law enforcement fatalities. As of December 14, 2011, traffic-related law enforcement fatalities are down 16% from the same time in 2010.
Seventy law enforcement officers died in traffic-related incidents in 2010, with 49 killed in automobile crashes, 14 struck and killed, six officers killed in motorcycle crashes and one officer killed in a bicycle crash.
So far in 2011, there have been 42 officers have been killed in automobile crashes, nine officers struck and killed, seven killed in motorcycle crashes and two killed when a train struck their vehicle.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund will issue its annual Preliminary Law Enforcement Fatality Research Bulletin on December 28, 2011, which will contain more detailed information about traffic-related fatalities and all law enforcement fatalities.
This blog is part of a series highlighting the risks law enforcement officers face on the road, as part of an innovative partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to promote law enforcement officer safety on the roadways.