NCJ Number
132195
Date Published
1991
Length
209 pages
Annotation
Information from reports on 286 police pursuits conducted by personnel of 86 Illinois police agencies formed the basis of an analysis of the circumstances, nature, and results of the pursuits.
Abstract
Results showed that most pursuits (88 percent) were initiated by a marked police vehicle with overhead emergency lights. Fifty-eight percent took place on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and 86 percent took place in clear and dry weather. Most took place on two-lane roads in residential/suburban communities. Pursuits lasted an average of 7.34 minutes and most often occurred at 41 to 60 or 61 to 80 miles per hour. Police vehicle speed exceeded 60 miles per hour in 56 percent of the pursuits, 80 miles per hour in 28 percent, and 100 miles per hour in 8 percent. One of every 2.4 pursuits resulted in a traffic accident of some type, with property damage occurring in 1 in every 3.6 pursuits, personal injury in 1 in every 8.7 pursuits, and a fatality in 1 in every 71.5 pursuits. The most common precipitating event was the observation of a minor traffic violation. Arrests occurred after 76 percent of the pursuits, most often for traffic law offenses, drunk driving, felonies, or non-traffic misdemeanors. Data tables and appended reporting form and list of participating agencies