Articles on Traffic stops

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Traffic stops are meant to make the streets safer, but police interactions with Black drivers can escalate quickly. deepblue4you via Getty

Police stop more Black drivers, while speed cameras issue unbiased tickets − new study from Chicago

‘Driving while Black’: Researchers found that Black drivers make up 70% of police traffic stops on roads where only half the drivers are Black.
The fatal beating of Tyre Nichols started after he was pulled over by cops. City of Memphis via AP

Police traffic stops can alienate communities and lead to violent deaths like Tyre Nichols’ – is it time to rethink them?

The case of Tyre Nichols highlights how traffic stops can turn deadly. Traffic stops are also prone to racial bias, can break down community trust in police and yield few results, research shows.
Demonstrators stand off with officers July 3, 2022, in Akron, Ohio, as they protest the killing of Jayland Walker, shot by police. Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images

College requirements for police forces can save Black lives, but at what cost?

New research on police departments across the country reveals a significant link between the use of fatal force and college education – the more educated are less likely to use it.
Some police reform efforts encourage stations to hire more educated officers. vchal/shutterstock.com

College‑educated cops enforce the law more aggressively

Officers with college degrees were significantly more likely to pull over drivers for less serious violations, search drivers or their vehicles and make arrests on discretionary grounds.

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