The Northumbria Police Authority maintains a specialized Traffic Department whose main goals are to reduce traffic accidents, enhance road safety, and provide support to other police. Traffic officers are available to help deal with crime, public disorder, drunkenness, domestic disturbances, fire, and other situations beyond the resources of the other police. In 1988 they also took part in a campaign to reduce vehicle thefts. Their vehicles traveled nearly 16 million miles and were involved in 995 accidents in 1988. Vehicles include cars, vans, personnel carriers, motorcycles, and a variety of special vehicles like prison cell vans. A new computer is providing current information on vehicle histories and helping predict maintenance schedules. During 1988 the numbers of traffic tickets increased and the staffing level declined, but retraining enabled them to cope with the workload. Graphs and photographs.