This Crash Responder Safety Week (November 13-17, 2023), the Green Bay Police Department (GBPD) is educating drivers about a traffic control tactic that officers are being trained to use to address traffic hazards, especially during times of high traffic volume. This tactic is called a traffic break.
A traffic break creates a safe zone that allows officers to safely resolve traffic hazards including debris in the roadway, traffic crashes, and disabled vehicles. This is accomplished by the officer matching the speed of traffic, activating their emergency lights, and then weaving back and forth across all lanes of traffic. This allows the officer to gradually slow or stop traffic, allowing either themselves or another officer ahead to safely resolve the traffic hazard.
If you see a traffic break taking place, please slow down and do not pass the officer.
Thank you for assisting us with our ongoing efforts to increase safety on our roadways, and as always, Drive Safe Green Bay!
The Green Bay Police Department has released a video on YouTube to demonstrate what the public will see in a traffic break scenario: https://youtu.be/5yQ-lj7ngcA.
