New Instructional Video Aims to Lessen Tension at Traffic Stops

AUSTIN, TX-- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is hoping a new instructional video will help citizens understand how to interact with law enforcement at traffic stops.

The Community Safety Education Act (S.B. 30) was signed into law to mandate specific instruction on traffic stop behavior by motorists and law enforcement officers. Along with the law, a new instructional video called “Flashing Lights” was added to driver’s education.

“Flashing Lights” is a 16-minute combined video and PowerPoint presentation produced and developed in partnership with TDLR, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the Texas Education Agency, Austin Community College, the Foundation for Safe Driving, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Travis County Constables, Teen and Police Service Academy of Houston, the Houston Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement agencies.

“I believe this video will help lower the tension in a traffic stop – and, I hope, allow both the driver and the officer to be safe and walk away from a traffic stop. Anyone who drives should take time to watch this presentation, no matter how long they’ve been driving,” said TDLR Executive Director Brian Francis.

Per the new law, all students at public high schools are required to receive this instruction prior to graduation. The law also requires that driver education and driving safety curriculum include information about proper procedures for citizen and law enforcement interaction during traffic stops. One of the goals of the new law is to lessen tensions and anxieties that may arise during interactions between officers and citizens that could lead to undesired outcomes.

You can view the video here.