USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Noteworthy Practice Booklet – Speed Management


            
            In This Section
        Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety
                Background & Resources
                                Crash Data & Facts
                Legislation & Guidelines
                Related Websites
                Safe System
                                Community Led Pedestrian and Bicycle Resources
                Primer on Safe System Approach
                Noteworthy Local Polices That Support Safe and Complete Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks
                Safety Tools
                Safety Countermeasures
                                Overview
                State Best Practices Policy for Toolbox of Countermeasures and Their Potential Effectiveness for Pedestrian Crashes
                Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Guide–Recommendations and Case Study
                Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas–Tri-Fold Brochure
                State Best Practices Policy for Medians
                State Best Practices Policy for Shoulders and Walkways (etc.)
                Evaluation of Pedestrian Countermeasures in Three Cities: San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami
                STEP
                                Overview
                Resources
                Webinars
                Videos
                Campaign
                STEM Lessons
                Focused Approach to Safety
                                Overview
                Resources
                Webinars
                In the News
                Available Trainings
                Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment
                                Guidance
                Data Tools and Resources
                
                Case Study 4: Noteworthy Speed Management Practices
FHWA-SA-20-080-High_Visibility_Enforcement.pdf (534.38 KB)


(Note: This document has been converted from the original document to 508-compliant HTML. The formatting has been adjusted for 508 compliance, but all the original text content is included, plus additional text descriptions for the images, photos and/or diagrams have been provided below.)

High Visibility Enforcement

CITY OF ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA

ISSUE
			STRATEGIES
			TAKEAWAYSHigh crash urban intersections
				Repeated distracted driver behavior leading to avoidable crashes
				Negative public view of enforcement actions
			High visibility enforcement advertised in advance
				Educational messaging with every stop
				Constant dialogue with media and citizens
			27% crash reduction for two urban intersections
				Media partnership
				Public transparency
				Significant educational awarenessBackground

The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) has created a data-driven initiative to improve traffic safety in the town of Oro Valley, Arizona. The program is called "HiVE" or High Visibility Enforcement, designed to target intersections that have high crash rates. HiVE is described as an "educational" initiative rather than a strict enforcement detail with the following two primary components:

OVPD publishes HiVE's future deployment dates and times to television, print, radio, and social media. This is to alert the community about the increased visibility of law enforcement and to improve communications between the police and citizens. Partnering with local media is a key component of the HiVE.
	During scheduled deployments, OVPD places six motorcycle officers in and around the targeted intersections. Motorcycle officers actively enforce traffic violations during peak travel times. The graphic below shows the HiVE logo developed for communications and program identification.OVPD reminds motorists not to engage in distracted driving or other driving behaviors that contribute to avoidable injury or fatal vehicle crashes.

The Challenge

When injury crashes reached an all-time high in Oro Valley, the Police Department held its first series of HiVE deployments for its motorcycle officers with the goal of increasing awareness and safety. At that time, two intersections, see Table 1 accounted for roughly 20 percent of all injury-related crashes so the department sought to change driving behavior by implementing the following 1:

Raising awareness by bringing attention to the problem
	Having law enforcement present and highly visible to the public
	Demonstrating intent to educate and train versus holding a punitive "ticket writing campaign"
	Showing transparency by warning the public about deployments and publishing the police deployment actionsPhoto of HiVE enforcement using motorcycles. A police officer is depicted on a motorcycle observing traffic.**HiVE enforcement using motorcycles.** *Image Source: ORO Valley Police*

HiVE logo used for communications.**HiVE logo used for communications.** *Source: Oro Valley Police*

Enforcement Actions

Over a 3-year period, OVPD conducted 142 HiVE deployments resulting in 4,005 traffic stops. Given the focus on education, this resulted in only 1 in 5 drivers receiving a moving violation citation. OVPD made a concerted effort to be transparent in the results of each deployment and in providing a 3-year analysis of crashes since the program began.

Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned

OVPD is working hard to show transparency to the public and to work with media outlets on the HiVE program. However, since this is a continuous program, it takes repeated efforts to ensure that messaging is consistent and that it accurately reflects the program's intent. Several lessons learned include the following:

**Diligent Messaging** – Do not let the media change the message. The police department has to be diligent in avoiding negative messaging such as:

"Oro Valley police officers working speed zones."
	"Speed-trap at Oracle and Magee today."
	"OVPD looking for speeders this morning."When these messages appear OVPD works with the media outlets to make sure citizens are informed well ahead of any deployments and to stress the education components, (see example public message months in advance of deployment2).

The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) will be conducting its "High Visibility Enforcement" (HiVE) efforts during the months of April and May on Oracle Road and Magee. OVPD hopes to increase awareness and reduce collisions related to speed, inattention, following too close, and failing to yield to other drivers.

OVPD will deploy motorcycle officers on the following dates:

Tuesday, April 16, 2019
			7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Thursday, May 2, 2019
			4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Tuesday, May 14, 2019
			7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (distracted driving deployment)Wednesday, May 29, 2019
			7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Motorists are asked to be aware of the additional enforcement activity and drive safely. If you have any questions about this release or traffic related issues in Oro Valley, please contact (Officer Name, Phone Number).

***Example public message in advance of enforcement actions.***

**Data Driven** – OVPD conducted a study, measuring crashes before and during the HiVE program as shown in Table 1. On average, these two signalized intersections experienced 25 fewer crashes each year. A comparison of injury related crashes showed a 42 percent reduction at Oracle Road and Suffolk Drive and 15 percent reduction at Oracle Road and Magee Road.

**Long Term Focus** – OVPD continues to operate the HiVE program and believe that it is making a difference increasing awareness and reducing avoidable crashes related to speed, inattention, following too close, and failing to yield to other drivers.

**Table 1. Crash frequency comparison before and during HiVE**

Intersection
			Pre-HiVE (2010-2012)
			HiVE (2013-2015)
			Crash ReductionOracle Rd. at Suffolk Dr.
			124
			72
			-42%Oracle Rd. at Magee Rd.
			144
			123
			-15%Intersections Combined
			268
			195
			-27%Sharp, Daniel. *High Visibility Enforcement* [Presentation]. Noteworthy Speed Management Practices webinar. ITE, June 13, 2019.
	*High Visibility Enforcement (HIVE) April and May Deployments,* Town of Oro Valley, 10 April 10, 2019. https://www.orovalleyaz.gov/Government/News/High-Visibility-Enforcement-HiVE-April-and-May-DeploymentsCase Study 4: Noteworthy Speed Management Practices – FHWA-SA-20-080
      
  Book traversal links for Case Study 4: Noteworthy Speed Management Practices
      ‹ Case Study 3: Noteworthy Speed Management Practices
                    Up
                    Case Study 5: Noteworthy Speed Management Practices › U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us