According to the Florida Highway Patrol, in fatal crashes involving cars and commercial trucks, driver error is the cause of 88 percent of the crashes. This has prompted the FHP to launch a new campaign aimed directly at aggressive drivers of cars and trucks, and try to limit the frequency of these types of crashes.

This week the FHP launched Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks to reduce commercial motor vehicle-related crashes by focusing on increased enforcement and driver safety education. This combined effort aims to both education drivers of cars and trucks and identify those drivers who fail to follow safe, defensive, driving behaviors.

According to a press release from the FHP:

?The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to reducing the number of commercial vehicle related crashes,? said Col. David Brierton, director of the Florida Highway Patrol. ?Crash reduction can be achieved if we all share the highway with each other and avoid aggressive driving behaviors.?
Troopers will be on the lookout for violations attributed to aggressive driving such as: following too closely, unsafe lane change and speeding. The campaign will consist of four enforcement and education phases, the first of which will be in north Florida between Pensacola and Ocala Nov. 12 – 16. Three additional phases will take place in other areas of the state through July 2013.

The FHP campaign will use billboard messages to increase awareness of safe driving behaviors for cars and trucks and of the now increased risk of receiving a ticket for violating safe driving practices. FHP will also work closely with the Florida Trucking Association to provide education programs at schools and community centers around the state, also aimed at educating drivers on how to share the road safely with trucks.

For drivers this is a time to focus on driving behaviors and understanding that although they are called “accidents” the reality is most vehicle collisions could be avoided if drivers focused more on their own behavior and less on getting their own way on the road.