Red dot sights can help police officers in high-pressure situations

A red dot sight differs from standard pistol sights, as the shooter aims using a red dot rather than aligning the front and rear sights. The dot is only visible in the sight and is not projected onto the target, unlike a laser sight.

“We wondered whether red dot sights could improve information processing in stressful situations where police officers are using their service weapons, and so reduce the risk of misjudgements,” says Daniel Castillo, associate professor (docent) in sociology and senior lecturer in business studies at the Academy of Public Administration.

Castillo is one of the researchers responsible for the study, alongside Martin Falk, a police inspector and lecturer in Police Education at the School of Police Sciences.

The study is an exploratory pilot study and is based on experiments in which participants were asked to shoot using different types of pistol sights in simulated situations under time pressure. Subsequently, accuracy and decision-making time were analysed.

Small but important differences

The results showed that red dot sights tend to make it easier to hit the target compared with traditional open sights, although the differences are small and not statistically significant.

However, the study suggests that even very small time savings can make a big difference in critical situations.

“These are differences at the level of milliseconds, but even this can be crucial – it can affect whether a police officer decides to shoot or not, and so potentially save a person’s life. That small time-saving could be the equivalent of the time it takes for a person to give up or cease being a threat,” says Falk.

Performed better than expected despite limited training

Castillo states that the study does have limitations, including a relatively small number of participants and a short training period for the shooters to become accustomed to the new technology. Still, the signs are promising.

“Although the shooters using red dot sights only had three hours of training to adapt to the new system, they performed better than expected. In the US, for example, police officers get two days of training.”

May influence equipment and education

A red dot sight can also be very helpful when shooting over longer distances.

“Most cases in which the police have fired live rounds with fatal consequences are at distances of less than seven metres and in situations of self-defence. By improving the ability to shoot at longer ranges, red dot sights may reduce fatalities and the risk of serious injury.”

The study also suggests potential benefits in an educational context, where red dot sights can make it easier for new recruits to learn how to shoot.