The Georgia Department of Public Safety, along with sheriff's deputies, are joining forces to stop aggressive drivers as part of the Georgia Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks initiative.
They don't stop for red lights or stop signs. They speed, tailgate, change lanes abruptly, slam on their brakes, yell, make hand gestures and threaten other drivers. You know them when you see them: aggressive drivers. The state of Georgia wants them to know that they're on notice; their dangerous antics are now being targeted by law enforcement on our busiest highways.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety, along with sheriff's deputies, are joining forces to stop aggressive drivers as part of the Georgia Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks initiative, known as G-TACT.
Law enforcement officials say aggressive driving is especially dangerous when a large truck is involved, whether the aggressive driver is behind the wheel of the truck or a car.
Trucks hold a sizeable advantage over passenger vehicles: a fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 pounds. A typical car weighs from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. When the two vehicles collide, occupants of the smaller vehicle are much more likely to be injured or killed.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, three out of four fatalities in accidents between large trucks and passenger vehicles are occupants of passenger vehicles. Three out of four people injured in accidents between cars and big rigs are occupants of passenger vehicles.
Those alarming statistics are part of the reason for the G-TACT crackdown on aggressive driving around large trucks. During a five-day G-TACT effort in June, law enforcement officers issued 444 traffic citations and 330 warnings. Other officials carried out over 400 safety inspections of large trucks.
One of the main messages officers want to impart is that drivers need to leave more room around big rigs. Don't tailgate them and don't allow them to tailgate you (if a truck tailgates, move safely to another lane of traffic). Also, drivers are encouraged to allow plenty of room for truck drivers to change lanes.
The rewards for smart, defensive driving are significantly better odds of arriving at your destination safely. Even good drivers can be harmed by aggressive drivers, however.
If you have been in an accident caused by a truck driver, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help determine if you are entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages and pain and suffering.
