Stop Left Side Approaches!

I don’t understand left side approaches. Maybe it’s because I was always taught to make my approaches on the right or maybe it’s something else, but I see absolutely ZERO benefit to making them. You may have your opinions about them, but let me be blunt; left side approaches don’t work and they put you in far greater danger. Left side approaches are just plain dumb.

Yes, I said it. If you took offense to it, that is unfortunate, but do I have your attention, because you need to listen. I work for a state wide agency and I make a LOT of traffic stops. In the almost two decades of work I have made literally thousands, I think that qualifies me to know what I am talking about in this particular matter. It still blows my mind when I see officers walking up on the left side of a car during a traffic stop on the freeway (highway, interstate, whatever you call it in your area). To make it worse, many of these officers then stand there conducting business with their back to traffic. It’s enough to send me into convulsions. Why would you stand there, with your back to traffic and not know what the hell is bearing down on you at freeway speeds? (Even if it is slower traffic, do you want to get hit by a vehicle at any speed?!) Why would you put yourself in a position where you have about six inches of space to react to anything the violator does? Why would you give the violator all the space and options to confront you and put yourself at a disadvantage? WHY?

The vast majority of people you stop are going to be looking over their left shoulder for you when you walk up, they are planning on it, and they are waiting for you. Don’t be predictable. Use the right side to make your approach on your traffic stop. The right side will keep you out of traffic and leave you plenty of room to maneuver if you need to make some space between you and the violator. If that person does try to engage you as you walk up, you have their whole car in between you and them for some good cover…whether they get out and try to charge you or a gun fight develops, space and distance are your friend. The right side approach gives you both of these. The left side approach, well you just make yourself a big fat target. Think about this, from the left side of their vehicle they simple have to have their arm folded across their chest (assuming most folks are right handed, and they are), holding a gun pointed out the driver’s side window, you won’t see it until their booger hook is pulling the bang switch, it’s too late at that point. Now, think about the right side, they’re going to have to somehow extend their hand across the passenger compartment of their vehicle, while holding that gun, before they can get a shot off at you. And it will take very long arms indeed for them to get a hold of you from the driver’s seat when you are standing outside the passenger window if they want to go hands on. Right side approach equals advantage YOU.

Since we’re talking about traffic stops, let’s cover the standing with your back to traffic thing. DON’T DO IT. Once you make the contact through the right passenger window and clear the hands of the vehicle’s occupants and the interior, rotate yourself around and face traffic. Your traffic violator may be completely compliant, but if you’re concentrating solely on them and not that 4,000 pound SUV approaching at 70 mph on the shoulder…well, what do you think your chances are? Watch traffic, it will kill you. While were talking about traffic, stay out of the no leg zone.  There is absolutely NO need to conduct your face to face business with the violator (if you need them to get out of the vehicle in the first place) between the trunk of their car and the hood of your car. The no leg zone is no good.

As I wrote this, I started thinking that this is some pretty basic stuff that “everyone” should know. But if everyone knows this, why does it keep happening? Left side approaches have no benefits and many drawbacks, why do we keep doing them? Sure, sometimes there is a reason to make a left side approach, maybe it’s a DUI stop, you’re on a quiet residential street and you need to check out that odor of alcohol on the breath. Yes, there are times and places where I can understand a left side approach. However, those are far and few between and the freeway is almost NEVER a time or place for one. Get off the left side of vehicles, use a right side approach, it’s safer and you’ll have a far longer career. Think about it, I’m right on this one. If you think I’m not, I’d like to understand your reasoning, I just don’t see it.

Stay Safe out there.

Original content by Michael McCarthy, posted to his Blog:  The Highway Ranger.