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Evaluating the Efficacy of Lighting, Markings, and Paint Schemes in Reducing the Incidence of Law Enforcement Vehicle Crashes

Award Information

Awardee
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Award #
2013-R2-CX-K004
Funding Category
Competitive
Location

Blacksburg, VA

Congressional District
9
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2013
Total funding (to date)
$1,159,508
Original Solicitation
NIJ FY 13 Evaluating the Efficacy of Lighting, Marking, and Paint Schemes in Reducing the Incidence of Law Enforcement Vehicle Crashes

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2013, $806,199)

This award was competitively made in response to a proposal submitted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI) to a National Institute of Justice FY 2013 solicitation: "Evaluating the Efficacy of Lighting, Markings, and Paint Schemes in Reducing the Incidence of Law Enforcement Vehicle Crashes". NIJs efforts to reduce law enforcement officer line-of-duty deaths and disabling injuries include research to improve traffic safety. From 2001 to 2010, traffic accidents were the single most prevalent cause of such deaths. In partnership with six law enforcement agencies in the State of Virginia, VPI proposes to evaluate the impact of alternative vehicle lighting, marking, and painting schemes on law enforcement vehicle traffic safety. ca/ncf

This award was competitively made under the FY2013 National Institute of Justice (NIJ) solicitation titled, Evaluating the Efficacy of Lighting, Markings, and Paint Schemes in Reducing the Incidence of Law Enforcement Vehicle Crashes. Virginia Polytechnic and State University (VPI) is conducting a pilot program, in partnership with six law enforcement agencies in the State of Virginia, to evaluate the impact of alternative vehicle lighting, marking, and painting schemes on law enforcement vehicle traffic safety. The ultimate goal of NIJ's traffic-safety research efforts, of which this is part, is to introduce into practice new tools, policies, and practices that will significantly reduce the number of officers killed or injured on the road each year. Traffic fatalities have been the single largest source of officer line-of-duty fatalities over the past decade. This award was incrementally funded. This completes funding for this award. nca/ncf

This project encompasses a research effort to continue the evaluation of lighting and marking schemes of police vehicles.

This proposal seeks to observe these effects using a matched co-hort of 100 participating officers that will include the outfitting of at least 50 police vehicles with the alternative configurations to be monitored over the course of 18 months. An additional 6 months for preparation, analysis, and reporting will be required for a total of 24 months of research.

Note: This project contains a research and/or development component.

nca/ncf

Date Created: August 28, 2013