Michigan Emergency Response Study: Phase III: Implications of the failure to report pursuits and inaccurate accident reporting ‐ a research note Available to Purchase

This analysis is the result of Phase III of the Michigan Emergency Response Study. A check of traffic tickets issued by the State Police officers during Phase II MERS revealed that officers issued twice the the number of tickets for fleeing and eluding than the number of pursuits reported. This study was conducted to determine the number of unreported pursuits and the officers’ reasons for failing to report. An analysis of the 65 reported MERS accidents was also conducted. This analysis revealed state police officers may have under‐reported their pursuits during the study year by a factor of 14.5, and describes the implications of such reporting on the rates of accidents, injuries and fatalities. The accident analysis revealed 43 per cent of the reported accidents were intentional collisions, which further reduced the official pursuit accident rate. Applies the findings of MERS III to provide indicated reductions in the accident, injury and fatality rates. Suggests recommendations to improve police pursuit reporting. The findings indicate that the police not only act in their own worst interests when they fail to report pursuits accurately, but also raise serious implications as to their accountability and integrity.