Minnesota Crime Prevention Associations crime tip of the week

March 11, 2010 by Linda Scherer
Filed under Howard Lake, Lester Prairie, News, Waverly, Winsted

WINSTED, MN – The Crime tip of the week: Pulling Over Safely on the Road – Be Officer Conscious!

Each day hundreds of Law Enforcement Officers are assisting (and citing) drivers on all sorts of roadways. Drivers often wonder what to do as they approach this scenario and we’ve posted these easy steps to help increase officer safety and ultimately decrease officer fatalities on the road:

• Don’t be distracted. That includes using the cell phone, eating, putting on makeup and/or changing

the radio while driving.

• Drive within the speed limit.

• Be alert of vehicles pulled over, especially law enforcement.

• Give officers room on the road to do their job safely!

• Watch officers’ hands as they direct traffic.

• Keep the volume on your car radio at a reasonable level and don’t wear headphones while you

drive.

• Only drive when sober.

• Report drunk drivers.

Let’s do our part to keep law enforcement safe!

Have a new or upcoming young driver in the house? Take advantage of the time while driving with a teen about the safety hazards. Teach them safe driving habits and how to avoid or properly handle problems on the road. If you wait until they are in the driver’s seat to do this, they might be too nervous or distracted to understand what you point out. Take advantage of the years leading up to their legal driving age!

Make sure teen knows what to do if he or she is asked to pull over on the road?

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET PULLED OVER?

1. Follow the officer’s directions.

2. Pull over as soon as possible.

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

4. Put your car in Park.

5. Turn the engine off.

6. Turn on the flashers.

7. Turn off your radio.

8. Roll down your window.

9. Turn on the interior light.

10. Keep your hands where the officer can see them. Do not look in your glove compartment until you