According to a press release from the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers will be out in full force, looking for car and truck drivers who drive aggressively.
“There’s little doubt what can happen when a passenger car collides with a tractor- trailer that is 80 feet long and weighs up to 20 tons. Such a crash can easily turn deadly. Today, the Florida Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers will start another phase of Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT), a safety campaign aimed at educating motorist on the danger of aggressive driving when interacting with large trucks on the road,” the press release states.
The program is called Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT). The campaign runs from July 18-31.
Troopers will be on the lookout for drivers who follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes and who are speeding.
“FHP is committed to making our highways safer and one way to do that is by reducing the number of commercial vehicle related crashes” said Lt. Col. Kelly Hildreth, deputy director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Most crashes involving trucks involve driver error by both the car and truck driver. We can reduce crashes if we all share the roadways and avoid aggressive driving behaviors and practice patience around big trucks.”
- Stay out of the No Zone: Watch for the huge blind spots (No Zones) around large trucks.
- Pass trucks with caution: Pass on the left side for maximum visibility and maintain a constant speed.
- Don’t cut trucks off. Large trucks simply can’t stop as quickly as cars.
- Practice patience. Try to be predictable. Avoid making erratic moves if a truck isn’t going as fast as you’d like.For more information about TACT and FHP’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement, visit: http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/
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 asafer 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. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV or find us on Facebook.