Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Florida Highway Patrol will be targeting aggressive drivers in advance of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend. FHP will enforce the “Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT)” program until June 28.
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Specifically, troopers will be looking to educate motorists about the dangers of aggressive driving around large trucks.
“Saving lives on Florida’s roadways is FHP’s number one priority,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “We can reduce crashes if we all share the road safely, avoid aggressive driving behaviors and exercise additional caution when driving near larger vehicles.”
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles encourages motorists to stay safe around large commercial trucks: Stay out of a truck’s blindspots, pass with care, do not cut off large trucks as they may be unable to stop, use patience, and don’t drive distracted.
Aggressive Driving and Traffic Accident Liability in South Florida
Large commercial trucks are hardly the only risk when it comes to aggressive driving. In fact, while relatively few of us are guilty of road rage (which is criminal aggression) many motorists are guilty of some form of aggressive driving behavior. Speeding, following too closely, failure to obey traffic control devices or traffic laws, failure to use a turn signal, and aggressive accelerating or braking are all examples of aggressive driving. Each of these behaviors decreases reaction time for you and the motorists around you, and increases the chances that you will be blamed for a serious or fatal traffic accident.
Criminal infractions or traffic citations can typically be used by accident victims as proof of negligence on the part of an at-fault driver. Chapter 768 Florida Statutes governs the laws of negligence in Florida. Under Florida law, motorists are required to exercise the degree of reasonable care that would be expected to minimize the risk of harm to other personal or property. A car accident attorney will work with accident victims to identify responsible parties and determine the extent of a victim’s damages, which can include medical bills, property damage, lost wages and pain and suffering.
Resolving to relax behind the wheel this summer, despite the heat and even in heavy traffic, will reduce your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle collision, while reducing the risk that you will be found civilly liable for damages.
Safe Summer Travel in SWFL
Authorities are providing a few common sense suggestions to ease the stress:
- Give yourself extra time to reach your destination
- Give your fellow drivers a break
- Make your car a no-cell-phone zone. We could all use the break anyway, and reducing distraction is among the best things you can do to prevent an accident
- Wear your seat belt and obey road laws
- Give fellow motorists a break. Most of us are doing the best we can and just trying to reach our destination safely
- Never provoke an argument with another driver. If you are victimized by an aggressive driver, take the nearest exit to distance yourself and drive to a safe place to report the incident if necessary.
If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.
Additional Resources
Florida Highway Patrol says they’re targeting aggressive drivers this summer, June 19, 2018, Orlando Weekly
