6 tips for traffic stop safety

The lights blink blue and red. The police car slows. This must be a traffic stop.

Never been pulled over? Nervous energy clouding your memory?

Here's how to navigate a stop, with six tips from Lisle police Chief David Anderson and Darien police Chief Greg Thomas. The pointers are adapted from guidelines in the Illinois Secretary of State's Rules of the Road handbook and designed to help drivers and police officers achieve a safer stop.

Stop safely: Don't slam on the brakes or stop in traffic, on a bridge, near a guard rail or on a curve. Pull to the right at the first safe location. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and stay in the vehicle, unless asked to exit. Be prepared for the officer to approach from either side. Wait for the officer's directions and follow them.

Stay calm: "Frequently, traffic stops are tense. They're unexpected. There's never a good time to be stopped," Anderson says. "Stay calm and listen to what the police officer says to direct you."

Communicate and stay visible: Officers are trained to watch people's hands as they pull over, so keep yours on the steering wheel. Narrate all your movements. Ask permission to gather your driver's license and proof of insurance. If it's dark, turn on the dome light. Announcing movements and getting permission proves to the officer you are not hiding drugs or reaching for a weapon, which increases safety for both officer and driver, Thomas says.

Comply, then complain: Follow all directions from the officer. Don't debate or argue. If given a ticket, sign it. Signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt; it is confirmation of receipt of the ticket. Take all tests as directed; refusal to submit to drunken driving testing, for example, can result in a loss of driving privileges. Don't argue about the merit of the ticket and do not resist arrest if taken into custody; these actions can result in additional charges. If unhappy with the officer's actions, ask for his name and badge number and file a written complaint with the police department's internal affairs division.

Acknowledge the violation and apologize if a violation occurred: Officers most often conduct stops to get drivers to voluntarily comply with speed limits and lane use rules. Officers are looking for proof the driver understands their error and will not commit the violation again. "I tell our officers, if there is an understanding," Anderson says, "then is there a need for a citation?" Often not.

Develop a plan in case you're stopped again: Treat a traffic stop like a tornado or a fire - as something to prepare for in case of emergency. This means developing a plan in case a stop occurs. Know where you keep your driver's license and proof of insurance; keep them somewhere easily accessible while driving.