More police officers are killed or injured each year in vehicle relatedincidents than in violent confrontations with firearms.

 Proceed with Caution is a nationwide public awareness campaign to bring this tragic fact before the American public. Last year, the program reached more than one million Americans with a reminder that is both simple and vital to the safety of law enforcers and citizens: “PROCEED WITH CAUTION”.

CAUTION TO THE WIND

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, over the past 10 years auto
Click to view. related accidents caused by careless citizens has replaced gunshots as the leading cause of death for police officers. Tragically, most of these deaths could have easily been avoided if only citizens were mindful of the hazards the nation’s congested streets and highways pose to public safety professionals.

Unfortunately, the problem is only getting worse. Line-of-duty deaths were up 40% during the first half of 2007. Roads are becoming more congested, making tempers short, exposing ever more drivers to a highly contagious form of aggressive driving. America may well be reaching a tipping point.

There is, however, some cause for hope. Like aggression, courteous driving is also contagious — the scale does tip both ways. When the Police Protective Fund first sought to take on this issue, we set ambitious goals. Our leadership was committed to creating a program that would have true IMPACT. A program that would save lives.

A MESSAGE WORTH REPEATING

Last year, “Proceed with Caution” contacted millions of American motorists with a call to action simply and powerfully stated in the program’s name. Our direct mail efforts reach over one million households with PROCEED WITH CAUTION’s educational brochure. All of these public awareness initiative stress two, easy to remember appeals — PROCEED WITH CAUTION and an invitation to visit this website to learn more about the issue.

On this site, citizens will find more than slogans — more than just bland advice.

CLICK for a Message from Chaplain David Fair, Ph. D.We wanted to accumulate information that provides true insight into this problem. What we found (thanks in large part to the Ford Motor Company) provides astonishing insight into careless motorists striking public safety personnel. Read it. Passing flashing halogen rotators will never be the same again. Citizens will gain an understanding of this crisis on our roadways and learn how to avoid it.

Hazardous working conditions are an inevitable part of every law enforcer’s job – especially in traffic enforcement. However, “Proceed with Caution” maintains that many of these dangers can be prevented when citizens practice safer driving habits.