Drivers on Florida roadways may want to practice some relaxation techniques before hitting the road this month. The Florida Highway Patrol recently announced an education and enforcement campaign to ticket aggressive truck and car drivers.
In crashes involving cars and commercial trucks, actions by drivers account for 88 percent of the crashes. Only 12 percent of the crashes are the result of vehicle defects, road conditions or inclement weather.
The campaign aims to reduce commercial motor vehicle-related crashes, injuries and fatalities by combining outreach, education and evaluation with targeted enforcement activities to raise awareness among car and truck drivers about safe driving behaviors.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to keeping our roadways safe for all motorists, and we are pleased to partner with the Florida Trucking Association on this safety campaign,” said Col. David Brierton. “Whether you are driving a commercial motor vehicle or a passenger car, it is a driver’s responsibility to drive with care.”
On Feb. 27-29, troopers statewide will be on the lookout for violations attributed to aggressive driving such as: following too closely, unsafe lane change and speeding; committed by truck and car drivers as they interact on Florida highways.
In addition to targeted enforcement, the campaign will use billboard and radio messaging to increase awareness among car and truck drivers of safe driving behaviors around one another and of the heightened risk of receiving a ticket for a violation.
In addition, FHP will collaborate with the Florida Trucking Association to conduct activities at schools and community centers around the state to educate drivers on how to share the road safely with trucks.
FTA President and CEO, Mary Lou Rajchel, said, “Safety on Florida’s roadways is a cooperative effort by cars and trucks alike. As an industry, safety is at the top of our minds—it matters above all else. We are pleased with the opportunity to take our No Zone message about safe driving behaviors around big rigs on the road with the Florida Highway Patrol. Pairing the ‘big trucks equal big blind spots’ message with the opportunity to ‘see what our drivers see’ through community education is a unique approach that we believe will promote responsible driving for everyone.”
The Institute of Police Technology and Management will conduct surveys prior to and after the education and enforcement campaign to measure the campaign’s effectiveness.
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