The “Broken Windows” theory says that fixing small problems in bad neighborhoods can prevent bigger crimes. But this idea doesn’t work well in community policing anymore. However, police still use it to control traffic on our roads.
The Biden Administration stopped supporting this approach because it hasn’t made streets safer and has caused problems between citizens and police.
One such practice, Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS), is similar to “Broken Windows” policing. It involves police pulling over drivers for minor things in high-crime areas to prevent bigger crimes.
But like “Broken Windows,” DDACTS doesn’t really work. In Nashville, researchers found that more police stops didn’t mean less crime. And when Fayetteville, N.C., reduced stops for minor violations, traffic accidents actually decreased. This suggests that focusing on genuine safety stops is more effective.
These programs have led to less trust in police, violated people’s rights, and made roads more dangerous for Black drivers. In Nashville, Black drivers were much more likely to be pulled over for small violations. Unfortunately, these stops can sometimes lead to violence or even death, as seen in the case of Tyre Nichols.
Many high-profile traffic stops start with something minor, like a broken taillight. This can be dangerous and doesn’t keep citizens safe. Ending funding for programs like DDACTS is a good step toward reducing traffic deaths.
But more needs to be done to make roads safer, like designing better roads, safer cars, and improving public transportation. In 2022, over 42,000 people died in car crashes in the U.S., and that number needs to decrease.
