ELEMENTS OF SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT IN TRAFFIC REGULATION

The author discusses the influence of traffic law enforcement on traffic safety. He cites a number of examples where the rate of traffic accidents in a city decreased substantially after the city undertook implementation of an active traffic law enforcement program. He notes that a policeman's traffic duties include three types of tasks - directing traffic, investigating traffic accidents, and traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is the activity that lowers the incidents of traffic accidents. The article discusses selective enforcement, why enforcement fails, and how to plan selective enforcement activities.