Enforcement Targeting to Risk: Bridging the Gap Between Concept and Implementation

In the New Zealand Road Safety Programme (2002 2003), reference was made to the 1997 introduction of a prototype planning tool Risk Targeted Patrol Plans (RTPP) that allocate New Zealand Police strategic hours to known road safety risk, days of the week, times of the day, areas, routes and locations .

The purpose of these plans was to ensure the optimal targeting of patrols according to risk, and to provide support for both locally and nationally planned road safety promotion campaigns. The RTPP process was intended to provide a complete feedback loop between officers, supervisors and analysts to ensure timely reporting of enforcement action taken and measured progress of those actions.

Although conceptually sound, in terms of actual implementation the RTPP process was often conducted in name only, and, in many districts, either lapsed into disuse or was completely disregarded by enforcement staff, who decided priorities according to their own perceptions. In short, there was a gap between concept and implementation.

The Southern Highway Patrol has developed a simple tool for utilising the RTPP process in the field, thus maximising the value of the intelligence analysts and enabling quality information sharing between front line staff, supervisors and analysts to achieve:
– measurable road safety outcomes;
– quality analysis of enforcement versus crash risk in specified locations;
– optimal use of resources;
– performance management of staff together with enhanced accountability;
– front line buy in into the process.