Don’t even think about cutting off a large truck. Not only could it land you a hefty fine, it could wind up costing you your life. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), close to 90 percent of accidents involving commercial trucks and passenger vehicles involve some sort of driver error.
To help to reduce these risks, officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) are launching a new safety campaign called “Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks.”
Our Cape Coral accident attorneys understand that this time of the year can be stressful on our roadways. During the end of each year, we have holiday and snowbird traffic with which to deal. We can all get a little stressed behind the wheel during this time. We’re asking drives to keep their cool and to not let aggressive driving habits put you at risk. Be safe, be cautious and be polite out there. We’ve all got places to go. Let’s work to make sure that everyone gets to and from where they need to be safely!
During the “Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks” campaign, officers throughout the state will be working to cut down on the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities that stem from accidents with commercial vehicles. Heightened enforcement efforts will be paired with awareness campaigns to help to spread the word!
Officers will be on the lookout for:
-Aggressive driving habits
-Tailgaters
-Speeders
-Unsafe lane changes.
“Safety on Florida’s roadways is a cooperative effort by cars and trucks alike. As an industry, safety is at the top of our minds — it matters above all else,” said Mary Lou Rajchel, President and CEO of the Florida Trucking Association.
In addition to increased enforcement, officers will be pushing this campaign by using billboard messages along some of our most popular roadways. The billboards warn drivers about the increased risks for accidents caused by dangerous driving behaviors.
The bottom line is that drivers of all kinds, including truckers and passenger-vehicle drivers, need to share the road with one another. Our safety relies on it. The drivers of passenger vehicles need to adjust their driving habits to accommodate these trucks. They don’t operate like our vehicles do.
When traveling near large trucks — keep your distance. Avoid cutting them off or following too closely. You want to stay out of their blind spots as well. These are areas surrounding the truck in which drivers cannot see you. Your best way to know if you’re in a blind spot is to look for the truck driver. If you’re not able to see him, he’s not able to see you. When passing a truck, you want to do so swiftly. Don’t linger alongside commercial vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured. Call for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
New HOS Rule to Reduce Risks of Trucking Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, March 29, 2012
New Release Illustrates Dangerous Jobs and Common Work-Related Accidents in Fort Myers and Elsewhere, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, September 5, 2012