10 Easy Steps to Keep Officers Safe on the Road

Here are 10 easy steps you can take to make our roadways safer for officers and others and to help decrease officer injuries and fatalities. Please remember these every time you're out on the road. Do your part to keep our peace officers safe!

1. Focus on driving. Do not talk on your cell phone, eat, hunt for items in your vehicle or engage in other distractions while driving. Know the laws on distracted driving in your jurisdiction - and follow them.
   
   

2. Give officers room on the roadway. When you see or hear a police or other emergency vehicle with its lights and siren activated, slow down, move to the right and stop if possible. Once the emergency vehicle passes, do not follow the vehicle too closely - give it plenty of room.
   
   

3. Move over. When see you a police or other emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway, slow down and, if possible, safely move one additional lane away from the stop. Forty-seven states have now enacted so-called "Move Over" laws, and violators can be ticketed.
   
   

4. Never drive on the shoulder of a highway. This is not only illegal but also dangerous, as police and other emergency vehicles often use the shoulder to get to traffic crashes and other incidents.
   
   

5. Watch officers' hands as they direct traffic.
   
   

6. Only drive when sober.
   
   

7. Drive within the speed limit.
   
   

8. Keep the volume on your car radio at a reasonable level.
   
   

9. Don't wear headphones while you drive.
   
   

10. Report drunk drivers.

What Should I Do if I Get Pulled Over by an Officer?

1. Follow all of the officer's directions.
   
   

2. Pull over as soon as possible - usually to the right and well onto the shoulder (unless the officer directs you otherwise).
   
   

3. Leave enough room for the officer to walk up to your car on the shoulder.
   
   

4. Put your car in "Park" and turn off the engine.
   
   

5. Turn on the flashers.
   
   

6. Turn off your radio.
   
   

7. Roll down your window.
   
   

8. Turn on the interior light.
   
   

9. Always stay in the vehicle unless directed otherwise by the officer. NEVER make a move to get out of the vehicle on your own.
   
   

10. Keep both hands where the officer can see them - preferably on the steering wheel. Do not look in your glove compartment, coat pocket or other place inside the vehicle until directed to do so by the officer.