The Impact of Police Officer Presence on Driver Behaviors Within Active School Zones

Child pedestrian injuries and fatalities remain a concern amidst evolving roadway conditions, larger and faster vehicles, and infrastructure deficiencies. While national and local advocacy efforts, such as Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) programs and Vision Zero Washoe County serve to educate pedestrians, school officials, and drivers, pedestrian fatalities and crashes involving Washoe County School District (WCSD) students are still at record levels. The study investigates the effectiveness of law enforcement presence in active school zones on mitigating vehicle speeds, a critical factor in child pedestrian safety. Utilizing LiDAR technology and in collaboration with the Reno Police Department (RPD), the hypothesis is that an officer's presence will cause drivers to significantly reduce their speeds. Three case studies conducted at local schools indicated a modest, though statistically significant, reduction in speeds with officer presence but highlighted challenges in sustaining this effect after the officer's departure, along with variations in driver behaviors based on the officer's chosen post within the school zone. This data underscores the complexity of school zone safety and emphasizes the importance of multifaceted approaches involving law enforcement, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Degree

Grantor

University of Nevada, Reno

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Vargo, Laura

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Xu, Hao

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Tian, Zong
• Park, Seri
• Feng, Jia

• Child Pedestrian
• Enforcement
• LiDAR
• Police
• School Zone

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11051

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11051