Unit 8: Law, Courts, and Procedure

Psychological Factors

Listed below are general categories of factors which have contributed to law enforcement collisions. Consider which of the following psychological factors may have affected your driving at one time or another:

1. Boredom of spending a full day in the vehicle (or longer on overtime shifts).

2. Aggressive nature of some officers may carry over into the driving task.

3. Reckless testing of a vehicle. How fast will it go, how far can you get it to skid, can I get all four wheels off the ground? An attitude of it being okay to “beat up” on the cruiser. 4. Overconfidence in one’s driving abilities or in handling capabilities of a cruiser.

5. Not being prepared for the lack of reaction or the over-reaction from a citizen in response to seeing a law enforcement vehicle.

6. Effects of emotions after having dealt with a work-related duty, and then driving.

7. Effects of emotions resulting from a personal situation

8. Having high-risk attitudes such as impatience, self-righteousness, preoccupation, ego.