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Traffic Priorities – What is the Game Plan?

by Sergeant Jay A. Froboese, Murrieta Police Department Traffic Division

Many times while our motor officers are out working, they will have curious citizens ask why they happen to be concentrating their enforcement efforts and spending a lot of time in or around their neighborhood or business. Since we get these questions quite often, I wanted to spend a minute and share with you our “GAMEPLAN” here at the Murrieta Police Department regarding traffic issues.

To begin with, our mission in the Traffic Division is to reduce the pain, suffering, and financial loss from traffic collisions. We approach this mission from many angles. We are heavily involved in public speaking and public education on traffic safety issues. We teach traffic safety at some of the Murrieta’s High School’s and conduct traffic safety presentations for the Murrieta Unified School District bus drivers. We lend our time and expertise to safety programs related to drinking and driving like the “Every Fifteen Minute Program”. We are currently working on rolling out a Bicycle Safety Campaign in the middle schools, and frequently speak on topics like pedestrian safety, traffic laws, and the DMV’s provisional driver’s license program. We work closely with City Hall and the City of Murrieta Traffic Engineer on traffic engineering issues in the City. This monthly column is one of our channels where we try to accomplish our mission. Lastly, we get out and do simple traffic enforcement.

Over the course of the year the Murrieta PD Traffic Division receives hundreds of calls and e-mails from citizens regarding traffic issues that are a cause of concern for them. We are also flagged down by citizens in the street and advised of traffic issues we need to address. Some of these issues are in their own residential neighborhoods, or situations they encounter while they drive around town. Our Traffic Police Secretary, Sue Weigman, takes these calls at 951-461-6326. She keeps a running log which she prints out and distributes to the motor officers. She also provides the patrol officers with this information at the morning and evening briefings.

Since we as motor officers spend a large part of our day doing traffic enforcement, we take this information and try to focus our time on as many of the issues as possible. We currently have five motor officers and one traffic officer in a car that handles these requests for enforcement. Patrol officers do the same, but only on a time permitting basis since their main priority during the day is answering and handling calls for service.

Along with information from Murrieta residents, all traffic accident investigation reports come through our office and are entered in our computer system by Sue. We pay particular attention to what is called the “Primary Collision Factor” on the report. This section of the report tells us the primary reason for the accident. Currently, speed, traffic signal violations, right of way violations, improper turns and driving under the influence are the five primary collision factors that cause 82% of the traffic accidents in Murrieta.

Armed with all this information we then go out and conduct enforcement, public speaking, or create programs to target these areas of concern. Our priorities are in a state of constant change as we get current information and trends into our office. We strive to work in every area where we receive complaints.

I welcome your questions and suggestions for future articles and can be contacted directly at the Murrieta Police Department at 951-461-6302. You can also email me at jfroboese@murrieta.org.

Written by Sergeant Jay Froboese

I welcome your questions and suggestions for future articles and can be contacted directly at the Murrieta Police Department at 951-461-6302 or jfroboese@murrieta.org.

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