| Most drivers are aware of the rules of the road, and | | | | sustaining whiplash and other injuries as a result of |
| know that driving carelessly can lead to accidents. | | | | the accidents. |
| Driving whilst speaking on a mobile phone or eating | | | | In response to these figures the Conservative |
| food can lead to drivers becoming distracted and | | | | shadow police reform minister has called for a |
| unable to drive properly which increases the likelihood | | | | revision to driver training standards, in a bid to reduce |
| of an accident. | | | | the number of accidents and relating injuries. Overall |
| When an accident occurs, and injuries have been | | | | however the police force across Britain do have |
| sustained then the police will often attend the | | | | fewer accidents on the roads than the general public |
| accident scene. In order to reach the scene promptly | | | | but are still liable to suffer from similar injuries which |
| police officers may use their blue lights to cut | | | | can be very detrimental to their work. For example, |
| through traffic and drive at higher speeds but this | | | | if a police officer sustains a whiplash injury as part of |
| too can lead to more accidents. Whilst police officers | | | | a road traffic accident they could be out of action |
| do have to undergo specialist training the number of | | | | for many weeks. The longer lasting effects of these |
| accidents caused by police cars on the road has | | | | types of injuries can also be restricted mobility which |
| increased over the years. These accidents have | | | | may require physiotherapy treatment. In addition |
| resulted in a number of injuries from whiplash to | | | | they may suffer from headaches and feelings of |
| broken bones and in some cases even death. | | | | sickness which are all related symptoms of whiplash. |
| Figures revealed in Parliament show that the number | | | | For some police officers the injuries incurred may be |
| of car accidents involving members of parts of the | | | | very serious and result in them being unable to |
| police force have increased by over thirty percent in | | | | continue in their line of work. This is a worst case |
| one year. The Home Office statistics show that in | | | | scenario as medical advances mean that often |
| 2007/2007 there were 656 road traffic accidents | | | | treatment and appropriate care can overtime help |
| which involved the police, which is a big increase from | | | | officers back to work after an accident, however |
| the reported figure of 472 the previous year. The | | | | this is not always the case. |
| majority of these accidents only involved police | | | | Overall training for police drivers needs to meet a |
| vehicles but up to 100 accidents did involve other | | | | high standard due to the nature of their work. But is |
| cars as well. Surprisingly only 56 of these accidents | | | | the responsibility of all drivers on the roads to |
| occurred whilst the police were responding to | | | | behave responsibility and not just think about their |
| emergency calls or in high speed pursuits. The | | | | own safety but also the safety of others, as the |
| number of people injured however did reach a five | | | | consequences of not doing so can be severe. |
| year high, with members of the police force | | | | |