Virtual Traffic Stop App

Limits Amount of Physical Interaction between Law Enforcement and Drivers to Reduce the Chance of Roadside Accidents and Altercations

This smartphone application improves the safety of high-stress interactions between law enforcement and civilians by reducing face-to-face contact during traffic stops. Over 40 percent of police-civilian encounters occur during traffic stops. Across the nation in 2015, 124 law enforcement officers died; 7 officers died after being shot during traffic stops and 11 officers died when struck outside their vehicles during a traffic stop.

One out of three shootings in which a law enforcement officer fires at a civilian occurs during a traffic stop for a minor infraction. Of these shootings, unarmed civilian deaths make up about a third of the total deaths. Traffic-related deaths of both civilians and law enforcement officers are on the rise with a 54 percent increase in 2017 compared to 2016. To combat this, researchers at the University of Florida have designed the “Virtual Traffic Stop” app to reduce physical interaction between law enforcement and drivers during traffic stops. This smartphone app enables officers to access driver and vehicle information and to communicate with the driver through network-connected devices without officers or drivers immediately leaving their vehicles.

Application

Software application for use by law enforcement and civilians on network-connected devices to reduce or eliminate face-to-face interaction during a traffic stop