This segment from "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" critically examines the practice of police pursuits in the United States, arguing they are a dangerously unregulated and often deadly aspect of modern policing. Oliver highlights staggering statistics, such as over 3,300 deaths in a six-year period, with a majority of victims being individuals other than the fleeing driver. He contrasts the high-stakes danger of chases with the low-stakes reality that most are initiated for minor traffic violations, not violent felonies. The video explores how events like the O.J. Simpson chase turned pursuits into a form of entertainment, while pointing out the lack of national standards, which results in wildly different and often permissive policies. The segment scrutinizes the dangerous "PIT maneuver," its frequent misuse, and its deadly consequences, as well as the disproportionate impact of chase-related fatalities on Black communities. Ultimately, Oliver advocates for national standards that would restrict chases to only the most severe cases involving violent criminals, alongside legal reforms to ensure police can be held liable for reckless pursuits.
The Dangers of Police Chases: An Argument for Reform
0:01:34 The Deadly Reality of Police Pursuits: Police chases are presented as entertainment but are incredibly dangerous. A San Francisco Chronicle investigation found over 3,300 people died in police pursuits over a six-year period—an average of nearly two a day. Over 500 of these victims were innocent bystanders.
0:03:02 Low-Stakes Infractions, High-Stakes Consequences: Contrary to their depiction in media, roughly 90% of police pursuits are initiated for simple traffic violations, not violent crimes. The segment highlights a tragic example where an innocent man was killed in a crash caused by a police chase that began over a seat belt violation.
0:05:14 Chases as a Spectator Sport: The 1994 O.J. Simpson chase ushered in an era of police pursuits as public entertainment, leading to the creation of services like Pluto TV's 24-hour police chase channel.
0:07:38 Lack of National Standards Creates a Patchwork of Policies: There are no mandated national standards for police chases. The nation's nearly 18,000 law enforcement agencies set their own rules, which range from highly restrictive (only for violent felonies) to extremely permissive, such as the Georgia State Patrol's policy which has no restrictions on speed, weather conditions, or the initial charge.
0:08:58 The Dangerous "PIT Maneuver": The Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), where police intentionally hit a fleeing car to make it spin out, is incredibly dangerous, especially at high speeds. Since 2017, at least 87 people have been killed by the maneuver. An example is shown of a pregnant woman in Arkansas who was pitted while following the driver's manual instructions to find a safe place to pull over.
0:12:33 Disproportionate Impact on Black Communities: Black people, who make up about one-eighth of the U.S. population, account for more than a third of all fatalities caused by police pursuits and over a quarter of the bystanders killed.
0:14:12 Debunking the "More Crime" Myth: Law enforcement often argues that restricting chases will lead to more people fleeing and an increase in crime. However, experts call this a myth, stating that research shows agencies with more restrictive policies do not see a significant increase in suspects who flee or have higher crime rates.
0:17:24 A Crisis of Accountability: Police often refuse to take responsibility when pursuits end in tragedy, blaming the fleeing driver even when bystanders are hurt. Accountability is difficult due to legal protections like qualified immunity and state laws that shield officers and agencies from liability.
0:22:25 A Call for Sensible Reforms: The segment proposes clear solutions, including establishing national standards to allow chases only for violent crimes where the suspect poses an imminent threat. It also calls for repealing laws that provide qualified immunity, which would allow officers and departments to be held accountable for reckless and deadly pursuits.