TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Passenger vehicles and tractor trailers share Florida’s highways every day, but too often aggressive driving habits result in deadly crashes between the two. Beginning today, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will begin Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT), a safety campaign aimed at educating motorists about the dangers of aggressive driving around large trucks and reducing commercial motor vehicle related crashes.
“The Florida Highway Patrol remains committed to keeping our roadways safe for all motorists,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We can all do our part in reducing traffic crashes by being cautious, patient and courteous while driving, especially around big trucks and buses.”
During the 2016 TACT campaign, law enforcement statewide issued 67,144 citations related to aggressive driving behaviors. The first TACT campaign in 2017 took place from February 24 to March 9, and 15,785 citations were issued.
The TACT campaign runs from June 16 through June 29. Troopers will be looking for car and truck drivers who display aggressive driving behavior such as following too closely, speeding and unsafe lane changes.
Motorists should protect themselves and their passengers by learning how to share the road safely. FHP offers these tips for driving around large trucks:
- Stay out of the No Zone: Be aware that large trucks have large blind spots (also known as “No Zones”);
- Pass trucks with caution: Pass on the left side for maximum visibility and maintain a constant speed;
- Do not cut trucks off: Be sure to leave plenty of room when you pull in front of a truck. Large trucks Simply cannot stop as quickly as cars;
- Practice patience around larger vehicles that are not traveling at the same speed as your vehicle;
- Do not drive distracted: Anything that takes your full attention off of the road, even for a second, could be deadly. This includes texting, changing the radio station, talking to passengers, and much more; and
- Dial *FHP (*347) if you witness aggressive or dangerous driving.
For more information about TACT and FHP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement, visit: https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/share-the-road/ticketing-aggressive-cars-and-trucks/
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol.
