A few days ago I was asked about a traffic stop where the officer had stopped a vehicle for driving slowly. You might think that the actions of the officer were peculiar for stopping vehicles that are driving slow and I probably would think the same thing if I did not have the inside scoop on the officer’s reasons for such a stop.

After all, isn’t driving slowly considered to be safer? The reasoning the officer used is really “no big secret” but probably not a well recognized fact either. The information I am going to give you is readily available on the Internet, particularly on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web page.

Officers must attend intense training with the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond Kentucky prior to being released to protect our citizens and community. Part of the training that they receive is centered on the detection and apprehension of impaired drivers. Notice that I said “impaired drivers?” You do not have to be “drunk” to be “impaired.” Many drivers arrested for DUI believed that they were perfectly capable of driving their vehicle because they did not feel “drunk.” Many studies have shown that impairment occurs long before the “drunk” feeling kicks into your system. Interestingly, impaired drivers will display one or more combinations of driving cues that indicate they are indeed too impaired for the safe operation of a motor vehicle. These cues are established through research of the NHTSA and used in the training of the officers to detect impaired drivers. One of these indicators is driving more than 10 miles per hour below the posted limit. Statistically the probability that a vehicle operator driving more than 10 miles per hour below the limit is an impaired driver is fifty percent. n other words, fifty out of one hundred drivers exhibiting this behavior will be impaired. There are several other indicators that are also observed for during DUI enforcement and if a combination of indicators is present, then the odds are compounded greatly that the driver is impaired. I don’t mind telling you the indicators because if you are impaired and driving, you will not be able to avoid them anyway. These are listed on the NHTSA web site.

Driver Action – Statistical probability of impairment

Turning with a wide radius – 65%

Straddling center of lane marker – 65%

Appearing to be drunk – 60%

Almost striking object or vehicle – 60%

Weaving – 60%

Driving on other than designated roadway – 55%

Swerving – 55%

Slow speed (more than 10 miles per hour below limit) – 50%

Stopping (without cause) in traffic lane – 50%

Drifting – 50%

Following too closely – 45%

Tires on center or lane marker – 45%

Braking erratically – 45%

Driving into opposing or crossing traffic – 45%

Signaling inconsistent with driving actions – 40%

Stopping inappropriately (other than in lane) – 35%

Turning abruptly or illegally – 35%

Accelerating or decelerating rapidly – 30%

Headlights off – 30%

In conclusion, officer actions are many times misinterpreted based upon our prior experiences and our socialization as to the way we believe the police should act or respond (probably from watching too much TV.)

A very good way to better familiarize yourself with the reality of the police profession is to participate in our Citizen’s Police Academy or even conduct a ride-along with an officer or two. I am always open to your comments and/or concerns so stop by and see me or drop me an email at bdill@russellvilleky.org

— Barry Dill is the chief of the Russellville Police Department.