7/7/2005
Safety campaign asks people to look at their own driving behaviors
BOISE - Speeding, tailgating or trying to beat a yellow light may qualify you as an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving is a leading cause of automobile crashes. A safety campaign sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Departments Office of Traffic and Highway Safety (OTHS) is aimed at changing that.
The safety campaign, which runs July 11-25, will feature paid advertising. Law enforcement agencies in urban areas throughout the state also will perform targeted patrols on aggressive drivers.
"Every time you follow too close, run a red light, roll through a stop sign, or fail to yield, youre driving aggressively and increasing your chances of being in a crash," says Mike Elmer of OTHS. "Most all of us drive aggressively at one time or another, so since were all part of the problem, we all need to be part of the solution."
Driving predictably, signaling before lane changes, staying within posted speed limits and keeping a safe following distance increases a drivers own safety.
The campaign asks drivers to take an honest look at their own driving habits, and how they can change their behavior to make Idahos roads safer. Simple, straightforward messages, such as Running the red? and Tailgating? are featured in advertising messages with a goal of educating drivers about behaviors that are considered aggressive and potentially dangerous.
"In simple terms, people who drive as if they are 10 minutes late are considered aggressive drivers. Being in a hurry often makes us take risks we shouldn't", Elmer says.