Page 35 - Argyle Police Officer Field Training Tips

Vehicle positioning various approaches

Traffic stop

On basic traffic stops, angle your car so you can have some built in cover if things go south. Remember,
your vehicle’s door is not great cover. You need as much metal between you and the suspect. If your
vehicle is positioned as it is in diagram A, you’ll need to run all the way to the back of your vehicle to get
decent cover. However, if you angle your vehicle more like in Diagram B, you have the whole nose of
your vehicle between you and the suspect the moment you get out of your vehicle.

Also, use passenger side approaches whenever possible. They are safer in most cases. Being on the
passenger’s side reduces the chances of you being struck by a vehicle, being struck by flying debris, and
if you end up fighting a violator, it’s much better to do it on the passenger’s side of a vehicle than the
side near the moving traffic. For one, the surface is typically softer on the shoulder of the road because
it’s often dirt or grass while the lane of traffic is typically pavement. Two, if you fight on the driver’s side
which will be closer to moving traffic, you’ll be faced with the danger of being pushed into traffic or even
accidentally falling into traffic.

Diagram A Diagram B

Pg. 34 POLICE FIELD TRAINING CONCEPTS