Vehicle approach

This could go here or under the "Traffic Stop" section, but seems more applicable to overall Officer safety.

1. Passenger side vehicle approach is becoming more common, and is a bit safer in my opinion. You can see better into the vehicle, and you have a little buffer between other traffic rushing by. (They haven't all caught on to move over a lane or slow down, although it is now law in TX)

2. Amber light sticks (Directionals) are less of a distraction/draw, luring others to collide with your traffic stop. So, after I light 'em up with all those cool LED's and wig wags and get them stopped, I automatically switch to Amber, turning the others off. This is also good because If you need to administer SFST's you're already set.

3. After releasing the violator, why walk backwards away from his vehicle? Do you think that the person you just interviewed and "ran all the way around" is a bigger threat than all those unknown motorists barreling down on your position? Watch where you're going and what is coming at you!

Be safe