State goes after aggressive drivers

From April through September the state police will increase the patrols on roads that have high crash rates as a result of aggressive driving. State police Traffic Services Section Sgt. Daniel Larkin said aggressive driving and crashes are more likely to occur as the volume of drivers increase during the warm weather.

According to Larkin, the campaign is part of the Traffic Safety Corridor Program. Larkin described this enforcement program as an initiative that targets aggressive driving in areas where more accidents are taking place.

"When you take a look at aggressive driving statewide as a percentage of all crashes particularly fatal crashes, aggressive driving contributes to a high percentage of those crashes," Larkin said.

The Department of Transportation and state police define an aggressive driver as anyone who operates a vehicle in a selfish, bold or forceful manner-without consideration of the rights or safety of the other users on the road.

The program is a collaborative effort between the state police and the Department of Transportation and is supported by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee. Larkin said local law enforcement agencies and county sheriff departments often participate in the program as well.

"Courteous driving is more than good manners, it can be life-saving," said Carl Ford, DOT Central New York regional director. Through the campaign, Ford is asking drivers to be courteous, slow down and not tailgate.

The seven most common aggressive driving behaviors the program aims to reduce are, excessive speed, frequent or unsafe lane changes, failure to signal, tailgating, failure to yield the right of way, disregarding traffic control devices and driving while impaired.

There are approximately 20 sites throughout the state targeted for aggressive driving enforcement each year, Larkin said. Each police troop designates two sites within their jurisdiction to target.

Once the areas are chosen, the state police conducts a week-long "blitz" period, Larkin said. Increased amounts of police patrols are placed in the targeted areas during the "blitz." The police then follow up with sustained enforcement through September. Although the sergeant could not confirm the exact number of additional police sent to patrol the targeted areas, he said there is a "significant" increase. Grant money is used to pay for the additional patrols.

"We feel this type of enforcement, using blitz and the mobilization model, has been very effective," Larkin said. There is no increased financial penalty for being pulled over during one of these periods.

In order to alert drivers of the increased enforcement, the DOT places portable message signs in high crash zones, Larkin said. The DOT and state police also hold press conferences to educate the public about the dangers of aggressive driving and the efforts being taken to reduce it.

State Police Troop C Zone Commander Capt. Lawrence Jackman kicked off the agency's enforcement campaign in Tompkins and Cortland counties last week. The targeted roads there are Routes 13 and 281.

According to Larkin, the state police have shifted their emphasis to non-interstate highways because statistics have shown the rate of fatal crashes on smaller roads resulting from aggressive driving is high.

"Interstate roads are built safer," Larkin said. "Non-interstates are not built like the interstate, as a result you get higher speed [and] the risk of a crash especially for a serious crash increases substantially." He said speed is a major factor in fatal crashes caused by aggressive driving.

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D,WF-Ithaca, commended the efforts made in her district, which includes Cortland and Tompkins counties.

"I think the state law should be enforced," Lifton said. "And I think it is appropriate to put a focus on aggressive driving and remind people to be respectful on the road … cars are a lethal weapon and lots of people die on our roadways every day."

Larkin's stressed that the Traffic Safety Corridor Program is only part of a broader effort the police and DOT are taking to tackle the issue of aggressive driving.

"Each state police troop conducts increased speed enforcement throughout the year in every zone every month," Larkin said. "All of these special programs … are all above and beyond what our troopers do on a day-to-day basis, which is where a majority of the enforcement takes place."

The DOT said the program consists of "engineering, education and enforcement."

"The number one concern that people have is traffic safety," Larkin said. "That is why we do what we do." He said the efforts made by the state police, DOT and local municipalities result in significantly reduced fatalities in the state.

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