KSP kicks off campaign to ticket aggressive drivers

Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is distributing free 18” x 24” reflective decals statewide to kick off the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign, which runs from Nov. 17, 2011 through Sept. 30 2012.

Funded and administered through the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, this national program is intended to target motorists driving recklessly around commercial trucks and truck drivers who violate traffic laws. Officers will look for aggressive driving behaviors such as following too close, unsafe lane changes, speeding and not leaving enough space when passing large trucks.

According to KSP Lt. Col. Jack Miniard, director of the CVE Division, the campaign combines enforcement and education in a effort to reduce commercial vehicle-related crashes. “Most people simply don’t understand the dangers of big-rigs,” says Miniard. “A car traveling 80 miles per hour only needs 160 feet to stop, but a commercial truck driving at the same rate of speed behind that car takes somewhere between 800 and 1,200 feet to stop,” he explains.

Crash statistics indicate that 70 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks are caused by passenger vehicles. Last year Kentucky had 8,564 crashes involving commercial vehicles resulting in 93 fatalities. Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.