'Preventable' means something different to Law Enforcement

Illinois changed their policy and the officers now have to do the speed limit and follow all laws. They were getting lax.

http://www.lineofduty.com/the-blotter/104954-time-to-review-metro-vegas-pursuit-policy


The Illinois State Police changed its policy in November, one year after one of its troopers crossed the median on an interstate and crashed into an oncoming car, killing two teenage sisters.

The trooper was traveling 126 mph in his police cruiser on the way to an accident scene that had already been resolved. He was reportedly multitasking, talking on a cell phone and a shoulder radio at the same time.

The state police's new policy created a four-tier system for how officers can respond to calls, including how fast they can drive and when they can use lights and sirens. Under the policy, troopers must notify supervisors if they intend to drive more than 20 mph over the speed limit, and supervisors must monitor the incident and intervene if necessary.

In a news release announcing the changes, Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent said he hoped the policy would become a model for other emergency service agencies.

"Having served law enforcement in four decades, I have never been part of such a dramatic change in the policing culture than we are about to implement," Trent said. "I know it's not going to be a popular decision in the law enforcement community, but it's my responsibility to not only protect our officers, but to protect the innocent citizens who travel the roadways within Illinois."

 

I agree with you and roadmedic on that but it would be equally wrong for me to base my opinion of the situation on what would/might happen to me as that wouldn't be objective...

I'm looking at it like this, what was the larger contributing factor to the accident...A person not paying attention being someplace they shouldn't have been or someone not paying attention in a place they should have been...It the 'not paying attention' cancel each other out(dual negligence), that leaves the person someplace they shouldn't have been more at fault...That may be wrong, but that's my opinion of it...

 

She was legally crossing a MARKED and properly designed intersection.

She entered an intersection when it was clear and safe to do so.

She had EVERY RIGHT to be there doing what she was doing.

She did not have the right to be killed by the negligence of another motorist who just so happened to be wearing a badge.

 

Apparently not since she couldn't clear the intersection timely and safely...

 

Does not give a cop or any other person the right to go barreling into the car either.

Especially when that person has the time to avoid the accident.

 

How many times have you been needing to make a left had turn...traffic clears from the left, and you see the gap you'll need coming....you're just waiting on 1 or 2 more cars from the right to go past. So you ease on out, figuring you'll be able to go as soon as this last car makes it past you. In the mean time, traffic coming from the left is starting to approach (faster than you expected if they are speeding)...but you are already there blocking their path. They may need to slow down a little to allow you to pass in front of them, but everyone generally gets through it problem free.

This is exactly how it appears in the video. She started her left hand turn when there was no traffic coming from the left. She is easing her way across the lanes as she waits for the car coming from her right to clear before completing her turn.

That's when the cop's cruiser comes barreling into the picture. She didn't "pull out" at the last minute...SHE WAS ALREADY fully occupying the lane when the dash cam picked her up. Video being what it is, the human eye is going to see farther than is evident on the video...and yet the video shows the car is visibly blocking his path with enough time to bring his cruiser to a stop (or at least shed a significant amount of speed so that rather than a fatal wreck, it would just be a minor fender bender). The car had it's headlights, tail lights, and left turn signal on...which ALL should have been noticed by the officer prior to the dash cam picking them up.

The cop screwed up. He was 100% in the wrong on this one, and deserves to be cited for the wreck.

 

Nobody's mentioned the leo was driving in the passing lane while not passing anyone at the time of impact. Had he kept right except to pass, the woman would still be alive..this aside from the obvious fact he could've minimized the impact as already mentioned in this thread

 

.....um ya so that was a divided highway NOT an interstate so he can drive in what ever lane he feels like it. Thats why 4 wheelers suck, you guys dont even know the rules....




American Trucker

 

Maybe in that state, but others have laws that say keep right except to pass. Interstate or not.