JULY 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 7

Laredo PD Improves Officer Safety with
Mobileye Collision Avoidance System
LAREDO – Police officers are
distracted drivers. Between
scanning the environment and
interacting with their radio and
computer, driving is just another
part of their duties, according
to Uri Tamir, general manager
of Mobileye North America. That
means safety behind the wheel
is an even bigger concern, especially
since vehicle-related
incidents are a leading cause of
officer death.
Emanuel Diaz, public information
officer for the Laredo
(TX) Police Department, agrees.
Officers are often checking information
or updating notes in
their mobile data terminals, and
the department wanted to ensure
an extra safety measure
was available for their drivers.
The department began installing
the Mobileye collision avoidance
system several years ago on all
new vehicles.
The system works like advanced
driver assistance systems
(ADAS) that provide lane departure
and collision warnings
but has police-specific features
such as the ability to turn the
alerts off, Tamir said. This allows
officers in pursuit mode to have
full control of their vehicle when
needed.
“It allows an extra safety feature
or warning system. In the
off chance we may be doing
something within our computers,
checking a note or something
like that on a hot call, and we’re
coming close to another vehicle,
we hear that distinct beep.
We know something’s about to
happen, so we start applying
our brakes and taking an evasive
maneuver if we need to,” Diaz
said. “It’s essentially an added
security feature for our officers
that helps in their everyday job
duties.”
Mobileye is installed in most
of the PD’s fleet of 200 vehicles,
which consists of mostly Ford
Police Interceptor Utility SUVs
but also includes Dodge Chargers,
F-150 pickups, Crown Vic’s,
and Chevrolet Caprices. The goal
is to have all patrol vehicles
installed with the technology,
which will be complete once all
the older vehicles are cycled out.
Diaz said at first, officers
were confused by the beep that
sounded when they, for example,
changed lanes without signaling.
However, they got used to it and
“it has saved them from actually
rear-ending other motorists,”
Diaz said.
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16 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 17