The Florida Highway Patrol has begun an additional statewide enforcement period dedicated to the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign, which will run through June 30. The TACT campaign is aimed at highlighting the danger of aggressive driving behaviors, such as following too closely, unsafe lane changes and speeding, when interacting with large trucks on the road.
“FHP is committed to reducing the number of commercial vehicle-related crashes on Florida roadways,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We can reduce crashes if we all share the roads safely, avoid aggressive driving behaviors and exercise additional caution when driving near larger vehicles.”
During the 2015 TACT campaign, law enforcement statewide issued 138,547 citations related to aggressive driving behaviors. The first TACT campaign in 2016 took place from March 11 to March 24, and 22,977 citations were issued. There are two more waves of TACT this year.
The TACT campaign is crucial as motorists are at a serious disadvantage if they are involved in a crash with a large commercial vehicle. This is because large commercial vehicles can be as long as eighty feet and weigh up to twenty tons. The large size also means it takes forty percent longer to come to a stop compared to a smaller vehicle.
Motorists should protect themselves and their passengers by learning how to share the road safely. FHP offers these tips for driving around large trucks:
• Stay out of the No Zone: Be aware that large trucks have large blind spots (also known as “No Zones”).
• Pass trucks with caution: Pass on the left side for maximum visibility and maintain a constant speed.
• Do not cut trucks off: Be sure to leave plenty of room when you pull in front of a truck. Large trucks
simply can’t stop as quickly as cars.
• Practice patience around larger vehicles that are not traveling at the same speed as your vehicle.
• Don’t drive distracted: Anything that takes your full attention off of the road, even for a second, could be deadly. This includes texting, changing the radio station, talking to passengers, and much more.
• Dial *FHP (*347) if you witness aggressive or dangerous driving.
