2003:  The Year In Review

2003 has been a fast and successful year for the Police Driving Site.  In late February, I placed a few pages online to collaborate with other law enforcement driving instructors.  The original intention was to have a place for Tulsa Police Instructors to gather but as time went by, the purpose and focus would change dramatically.

I was contacted by several other instructors and encouraged to expand the site.  In addition, I met Jim Phillips of Pursuit Watch.  I saw a need for an extensive site dedicated to law enforcement driver training and the issue of safer pursuits.  These early days of the site were not without bumps in the road.  I struggled to learn some of the web design techniques and it became difficult to publish and maintain the site on a very small budget. 

Within a few months, the Police Driving Site had expanded to daily news, articles and an award program.  Site traffic tripled from the early months and over fifty sites asked to link up to Police Driving.  By the end of 2003, the Police Driving Site looked nothing like it did eleven months earlier.  Several associates joined the site to lend their expertise while profiles were published on driving instructors around the United States.  Over 100 articles are on the site and several companies submitted information to be placed within the technology section.  Following a series of articles on the Crown Vic, the site was contacted by Ford Motor Company in an effort to curb some of the negative attention they were receiving over the fuel tank fires.

2003 was not without tragedy.  The year marked the highest total in the history of American Law Enforcement for officer deaths in Police Pursuits.  In addition 50 officers were killed in automobile collisions.  Vehicles were responsible for more officer deaths than firearms and training still appears to be woefully behind.  Innocent citizens were killed in police pursuits at a very high rate in 2003.  In states such as Mississippi and Kansas, the deaths have spawned an outcry to change pursuit policy and to add training.

Several contacts were made by members of the media to the site.  Although I feel the attention is good for bringing these issues to the public, it is also sad because tragedy usually preceded any media involvement.  I hope and pray that the future holds a more proactive attitude in relation to driver training and police pursuits.

The future is important.  Looking at 2003, I am certain that God has a hand in making the police and citizens safer as it relates to Police Driving & Pursuits.  Progress is being made to rapidly for this to be a mere coincidence.  Victim Advocate Groups have joined with law enforcement in this venture.  The strides in Missouri, Mississippi, California, and Florida are just some of the examples.  This joint venture is very unique and I am certain the future will bring great success.

I thank everyone that has participated and assisted in the Police Driving Site.  Special thanks to my wife & kids for giving me the time to maintain this endeavor.  As always, I thank God for letting me keep my health and subsequently my focus in the field of law enforcement driver training.

Sergeant Travis Yates is a Team Leader with the Tulsa Police Law Enforcement Driver Training Unit.  He is a nationally certified driving instructor and a certified instructor in tire deflation devices and the pursuit intervention technique.  Sgt. Yates is a ten-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department with a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State University.  He is the webmaster for www.policedriving.com.