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High-visibility patrols looking for aggressive drivers

Vigil continues through April 12

Aggressive driving behaviors contribute to more than half of Idaho’s traffic fatalities, so ITD and law enforcement agencies across the state remind motorists to make safe driving decisions when behind the wheel.

ITD is partnering with Idaho law enforcement to make highways safer by funding high-visibility aggressive driving patrols that began Thursday and continue through April 12.

Tailgating, changing lanes without warning, speeding, running red lights or stop
signs, following too closely or failing to yield to other vehicles are poor decisions and indicators of aggressive driving.

During the aggressive driving enforcement campaign, officers will increase enforcement of speed limits and traffic laws.

“Drivers must recognize what aggressive driving is, understand the risk involved, and know they will be ticketed if they choose to drive aggressively,” explained Cecilia Arritola, with ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety.

“Aggressive driving is a serious problem in Idaho,” Arritola said, “particularly in rural areas where higher speed limits are usually in place and more than two-thirds of fatal aggressive driving crashes occur.”

Aggressive driving behaviors like speeding and following too closely also contribute to crashes that take place in and around highway construction areas.

The economic cost of crashes involving aggressive driving was close to $1.5 billion in 2008, which represents nearly half of the total costs of all crashes in Idaho, according to ITD.

On average, more than 100 people die as a result of aggressive driving crashes each year in Idaho.