FHP cracks down on aggressive driving

TAMPA - The Florida Highway Patrol is planning a crackdown on aggressive driving for February.

They’ll role out their strategy in two parts. The first is an education campaign -- based around radio ads and billboards -- sharing the dangers of aggressive driving.

The second part of the campaign is an enforcement effort, ticketing drivers for aggressive driving. They’ll be on the roads doing that Feb. 27-29.

According to FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins, there are three main characteristics of aggressive driving they’ll be looking for: following too closely, improperly changing lanes and speeding.

Gaskins said aggressive drivers are often doing more than one of those things.

“When you’re doing multiple violations at one time, that’s what we would define as aggressive,” Gaskins said.

He said FHP felt the need to combat aggressive driving because their research shows 88 percent of all crashes in Florida are caused by actions of drivers, rather than inclement weather, road conditions or vehicle defects.