State Police and State D.O.T. Aggressive Driving Campaign
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Regional Director Michael A. Shamma, New York State Police Troop D Commander Major Donald X. DePass, Jr. and Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara today kicked off this year’s Aggressive Driving Targeted Enforcement Campaign, which is designed to increase awareness of the problems associated with unsafe driving.
The campaign will feature targeted enforcement throughout the summer at several Oneida County locations including: Oriskany Boulevard from the Utica city line west to the intersection with Commercial Drive in the Village of Yorkville and Town of Whitestown; the entire length of Commercial Drive from Oriskany Boulevard to Route 5 (Seneca Turnpike) in the Village of New York Mills and the Towns of Whitestown and New Hartford; and Route 5 from the intersection with Routes 12 and 12B (Yahnundasis Golf Club) to the Kirkland town line in the Town of New Hartford. “In cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we are educating the public about the perils of aggressive driving and working to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of the state’s highways,” Regional Director Shamma said, “Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, we are modifying traffic patterns in response to real-time traffic conditions, notifying motorists before they hit delays and helping to avoid some of the frustration that often leads to aggressive driving.” In addition to the State Police, the following local enforcement agencies will be participating in the program: the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Town of New Hartford Police Department, Town of Whitestown Police Department, Village of New York Mills Police Department and the Village of Yorkville Police Department. Enforcement will continue in the targeted locations at various times throughout the summer. Every year, aggressive drivers cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. The State Police define an aggressive driver as “anyone who operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner – without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of our streets and highways.” Three main factors have been linked to aggressive driving – irresponsible driver behavior, congestion leading to increased travel times (particularly in urban areas) and reduced levels of enforcement. The State Department of Transportation, State Police and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) have joined together in an effort to reduce the incidence of aggressive driving through a program of engineering, education and enforcement. "After the engineering and the education, it is vital to enforce the laws to reinforce the seriousness of this message,” said Troop D Commander Major DePass. “Our goal is to keep drivers focused on what is most important – getting to their destination safely. It has been shown time and time again that a strong enforcement program reduces the incidence of aggressive driving behavior – and that benefits everyone.” "I applaud this initiative. It serves to remind all of us that our individual driving styles must be limited by the bounds of the law and by the standards of courtesy and civility that we want and expect from others," said District Attorney McNamara. Engineering countermeasures focus on design and operational changes – a key role for NYSDOT engineers. Advances in traffic engineering are intended to reduce speeding, add capacity to congested roadways and reduce the likelihood of driver stress. Elements of highway design can also lessen the potential for and severity of injuries related to accidents caused by aggressive drivers. In urban areas, Intelligent Transportation Systems help reduce driver frustrations by providing advanced warning of roadway conditions. Education efforts focus on public awareness of aggressive driving and the consequences. Drivers are encouraged to be polite and courteous, think before reacting, consider the possible consequences of their actions and avoid behaviors that provoke aggression. Drivers should also remember to stay patient when driving in traffic and never respond to challenges from other drivers. It helps to remember that everyone makes mistakes and not all unsafe driving actions are intentional or personal. Enforcement is the final tool in the effort to reduce the incidence of aggressive driving and is the focus of this campaign. It has been found that the fewer enforcement actions are taken, the more frequently the aggressive behavior occurs. State Police have had an anti-aggressive driver program since 1995, but in 2002 the State Police, NYSDOT and the GTSC began a statewide campaign of vigorous enforcement and education. The goal is to raise awareness and eradicate the seven most common aggressive driving behaviors: •excessive speed •frequent or unsafe lane changes •failure to signal •tailgating •failure to yield right of way •disregarding traffic control devices •driving while impaired The targeted enforcement areas will be heavily patrolled beginning May 7 with increased enforcement continuing throughout the summer. Violators will be ticketed. Motorists are advised to obey all traffic laws – including mandatory seat belt use and the ban on hand held cell phones. Most Popular |
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