NCLM’s “Defensive Driving: Slower is Faster” hands-on course trains North Carolina police officers in advanced driving skills, reducing accidents and enhancing safety. Officers apply new techniques, improving driving standards across their departments.
Last April the League’s Risk Management Services team hosted its annual “Defensive Driving: Slower is Faster” training for police officers in Winston-Salem. This two-day comprehensive course teaches and trains police officers throughout North Carolina how to use their squad vehicles as an effective tool, instead of a liability.
Because of our Property & Casualty and Workers’ Compensation insurance pools, the League can offer a unique perspective on the unsafe patterns happening in policing across North Carolina. Our risk management team knows the most common types of claims filed and the highest liability factors in the policing profession. Therefore, the defensive driving course was born.
“We’re trying to reduce claims, we’re trying to reduce injuries, lawsuits, all of the basic stuff that you see, unfortunately, happening in the profession,” said Tom Anderson, NCLM director of risk control and public safety risk management.
Anderson has over 30 years of combined experience in law enforcement and has seen both sides of the insurance claims process. Over time he’s realized that many of these unfortunate accidents are completely preventable.
“The training, the policy and the leadership is a big component of that. When I think of risk management, especially in public safety, it is a leadership priority,” said Anderson.
And the leadership of police departments attending the defensive driving course wholeheartedly agrees.
This course focuses on training the trainer. It includes a full classroom day where various speakers from the League, the Town of Hillsborough, and the National Law Enforcement Roadway Safety Program presented best practices on defensive driving.
The next day, attendees took their fleet cars to the Winston-Salem fairgrounds and practiced the techniques they learned on a racecourse with professional driving coaches.
Since the defensive driving course started, over 100 different towns have been represented by their police training officers at this two-day event. The League insures over 5,000 law enforcement officers across the state. Trainers can take what they learned from the course and bring it back to their towns to implement new safety practices and policies.
“The information over the two days—classrooms, resources, in-car training behind the wheel, instruction from coaches—allows them to go back to their departments and customize these trainings for their individual departments needs,” said Eric Peterson, Hillsborough town manager.
Peterson has been racing sports cars for over 30 years and has participated in a variety of motor vehicle sports. Over 10 years ago, the Hillsborough chief of police asked Peterson if he could help their police department develop a safety driving course with the expertise of his background. Peterson happily agreed. Through the town’s relationship with the League, and Peterson’s connections to the racing community in North Carolina, the “Defensive Driving: Slower is Faster” course was formed.
The present-day Hillsborough Chief of Police Duane Hampton is a partner of the League in teaching this course.
“The overall quality of driving we’re seeing is improving. Younger officers are being more aware, being more cautious, realizing the responsibility that comes with the driving,” said Hampton.
The police training in North Carolina requires cadets to learn many things to ensure citizen safety, as well as their own. One aspect of this police training is driving. While officers are trained on what to expect and safety practices on the road, the League’s defensive driving course recognizes the need for a more in-depth training experience.
“We need to think more about what we’re doing and realize that these decisions that we’re making have a huge impact. We’re trying to change that culture, getting officers to slow down … give themselves a safety buffer that sometimes we didn’t do in the past,” Hampton continues.
“One of the most inherently dangerous things that cops do is drive cars,” said Joseph Graziano, NCLM public safety risk management consultant. “We want everyone to be safe, whether it’s the community or the officer driving the car. Taking subtle changes along the way when they are responding at a high rate of speed or in a high-stress pursuit, they can successfully do that.”
The League continues to develop and implement training for its members where it is needed most. The “Defensive Driving: Slower is Faster” course has proven to be an invaluable resource for police departments across North Carolina. By equipping officers with advanced driving techniques and safety practices, the course is helping reduce accidents and enhance road safety. Officers return to their departments with new skills and a fresh perspective, spreading safer driving habits throughout their departments. The hands-on experience and expert instruction are making a tangible difference, leading to improved driving standards and fewer incidents. As the League continues to support these training efforts, the commitment to safer roads and more effective policing remains strong.
