A team of psychologists will start to work with police officers patrolling local elevated roads at the end of this month as the traffic cops face far more danger and pressure than their counterparts patrolling regular city streets.

While the elevated expressways are designed to cater to four-wheelers, most traffic police officers have to ride on motorbikes to perform their duties, which makes their job more dangerous and stressful.

"The elevated road police must use the motorbikes in order to have quick and easy access to get to any accident site," said Guo Ji, a police officer and coordinator for local traffic police on the elevated roads. "However, it makes a risky job for the motorists to find a way through fast-driving four-wheelers."

Nearly 80 percent of the 100 officers patrolling the city's elevated roads have been injured in collisions or falling from their motorbikes during work.

"The situation is even worse during rainy days when the lanes become very slippery," said a police officer surnamed Zhai.Though officials acknowledged the only thing they can do to prevent injuries is to warn officers to be more careful, they hope the new counselling service will give officers an outlet to release their pressure.

The psychological consulting team, composed of two experienced traffic police officers who have acquired professional consulting qualifications, will talk to officers suffering from stress face-to-face as well as by phone.

The elevated road traffic police team also plans to invite professional psychologists to help the officers in the near future.

"We hope patrol officers can find a way to relieve their stress after talking with professionals," said Guo.

Much of the stress officers face can be attributed to their heavy workload, according to Guo.

Due to a lack of police, each of the patrolmen on the elevated roads will have to patrol some 3 to 4 kilometers daily. Many officers work 20 to 30 hours of overtime every month.

In addition, since many drivers still know little about amended traffic rules, the officers also face frequent complaints when handing out infraction tickets to the drivers.

Source: Shanghai Daily