With distracted driving on the rise, State Patrol recruits train with real world scenarios

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.

Distraction on the road is deadly. Future state troopers see firsthand the dangers, and how to protect themselves and others.

“The passenger’s hurt pretty bad,” a State Patrol recruit calls out for help, trying to stay in control during the chaos.

These soon-to-be troopers found themselves cuffing an uncooperative suspect in a steady downpour, in a training exercise that feels like the real deal.

“Very realistic, got the weather, slick roads, about perfect,” said recruit Seth Olson.

Conditions were far from perfect for most of us, but it’s what Olson, a Ravenna native, signed up for.

As he gets behind the wheel, he wants to be on the road, for the good of the public.

“That’s one of the reasons I chose this career. It’s pretty amazing,” he said.

As the 60th Nebraska State Patrol basic class nears graduation, instructors are seeing how they’ll respond in one of the core parts of the job.

Trooper J.J. Connelly said, “I want them to deal with the unknown, because they don’t know what they’re rolling up to on these crashes. That’s what we’re trying to simulate.”

One problem appears to be getting worse.

“This is a broken record, but distracted driving. We’re seeing more and more of it and it’s sad,” Connelly said.

A mindset of safety starts before troopers arrive.

Olson said, “We have to make it to the scene otherwise we’re no help.”

And they need to keep things from getting worse.

“There’s a lot of accidents that happen because of accidents so once we get to the scene, we’re going to secure it and not make it worse, that’s our priority,” Olson said.

Last summer, three Nebraska state troopers were struck in a matter of weeks. Troopers say they’re always mindful of their own safety, and some have experienced their own close calls.

Connelly said, “I got hit in the rear patrolling the interstate on a kid on his phone, because I’m driving down the driving lane like I’m supposed to.”

Troopers assess injuries, at the same time looking for anything that could help their investigation.

Accident reports help engineers make cars and roads safer, but safe driving starts with everyone who gets behind the wheel.

And as they work to reduce accidents, if there is a crash, Seth Olson says he’ll be ready.

“People depend on us, that’s why we’re out here,” he said.

Soon this class will graduate, and instructors say they need to be ready for scenarios like this from day one.