This week marks the start of an Aggressive Driving Enforcement Campaign that police agencies nationwide are recognizing, including the Lexington Police Department.
Aggressive driving includes speeding, running stop signs or red lights, tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic. It also includes physical or verbal gestures, threats and drawing attention by screaming, honking or flashing headlights.
The department is bringing in officers to watch for aggressive driving through the end of the month. The regular routines and emergency response times of street officers will not be affected.
Jeremiah Davis is a lieutenant of the Lexington Police Department’s traffic section. He hopes the initiative will make roadways around central Kentucky safer.
“The goal is to make it safer for everyone, all inclusive, it makes a difference,” Davis said. “And if we can have some sort of impact that may save a life… it's worth every bit of the time and effort.”
Davis also said the best thing to do when confronted with an aggressive driver is to remove yourself from the situation.
“Make every attempt to safely get out of the way of the aggressive driver, don't challenge them by speeding up or trying to hold the lane,” Davis said. “Avoid eye contact and ignore any kind of gestures that may be given by the aggressive driver towards someone else on the road.”
Speeding accounted for more than 12,000 deaths in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
