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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
According
to data presented by the Texas Transportation Institute in its Urban
Roadway Congestion Report 1982-1993, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan
area ranks second nationwide for traffic congestion. Continued urban
growth and daily motor vehicle crashes resulting from aggressive driving
strongly contribute to this congestion.
Throughout
the Washington area there is the general perception that congestion
impedes law enforcement officers from adequately enforcing traffic laws
and responding to emergencies. Local law enforcement agencies needed
a program to educate the public about aggressive driving, while increasing
the perception that violators would be apprehended.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Smooth
Operator program was developed as a cooperative effort between law
enforcement agencies in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia,
to reduce motor vehicle crashes resulting from aggressive driving. Specific
objectives of the program are to:
- Increase
traffic enforcement through a multi-state, coordinated and focused
campaign targeting aggressive drivers
- Collect
baseline data on the rate of aggressive driving violations, including
red light running, stop sign violations, excessive speeding and following
too close
- Improve
public knowledge and behavior through the implementation of a regional
public awareness and education campaign, using paid media
- Evaluate
the success of the implemented countermeasure strategies
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Smooth
Operator engages Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies
in a coordinated series of focused traffic enforcement waves, each lasting
one week. The current campaign began in March 2001, and will be conducted
in four waves through August 2001. A total of 25 law enforcement agencies
in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are targeting aggressive
driving violations such as red light running, stop sign violations,
excessive speeding, unsafe lane changes and tailgating. Each law enforcement
agency conducts aggressive driving enforcement independently, in its
own jurisdiction. Program leadership rotates yearly among participating
agencies, and media exposure is shared. Activities associated with the
Smooth Operator campaign include:
- Incorporating
the support and participation of the Washington, Maryland and Virginia
Motor Vehicle Administrations, as partners in the regional campaign
- Implementing
a regional media awareness and public educational program using radio
spots and printed materials
- Collecting
baseline data on the incidence of aggressive driving behaviors, to
assist in post-program evaluation
- Conducting
an aggressive driving symposium to share program results with local
safety advocates and public officials
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