FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division has announced the start of a three-week statewide enforcement blitz targeting overly-aggressive drivers.
The Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Campaign targets drivers – both passenger car and commercial vehicle – who exhibit dangerous driving behaviors, which include improper lanes changes, following too closely, not leaving enough space to pass and excessive speed.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Director Major Nathan Day offered tips to drivers of both passenger cars and commercial trucks.
“At the end of the day, all of us want to make it home safely to our families,” Day said. “Sometimes it’s as simple as being willing to be the driver who does the ‘right thing’ when others are displaying the wrong behavior.”
Day said the best defense against an aggressive driver is a seat belt and plenty of patience.
“You can’t control what other drivers are doing but you can safeguard yourself and your passengers by always buckling up,” he said. “Be a courteous driver and don’t fall into the category of an aggressive driver.”
Aggressive driving is defined as any behind-the-wheel behavior that places another person in danger through willful action without regard to safety.
KSP provides the following tips to avoid being an aggressive driver:
- Allow more time to get to your destination. It reduces stress dramatically.
- Don’t tailgate large trucks. If you can’t see the truck driver’s side-view mirrors, then know that they can’t see you.
- Leave extra space when passing each other.
- Understand that it takes a large truck twice the amount of time to come to a stop than a regular passenger car does.
In 2019, there were 6,147 crashes involving commercial trucks on Kentucky roadways resulting in 88 deaths.
TACT enforcement and public information efforts are funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
