|
Project
Characteristics |
|
Enforcement
Public
Awareness
|
|
Program
Areas |
|
Police
Traffic Services
Public
Awareness and Education
|
Type
of Jurisdiction |
|
State |
Targeted
Population |
| Motoring
Public |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| 3.5
million |
Funding |
|
402
Funds: $248,638
Dept.
of Public Safety Funds: $1,257,969
|
Contact |
Sgt.
Henry Perucki
CT Dept. of Public Safety
Division of State Police
1111
County Club Road
Middletown, CT 06457
(860)
685-8434
|
|
Digest
Listing
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|
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Police
Aggressive Driving Team (PDF Version)
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Traffic
has worsened on Connecticut roadways. Since 1990, the number of motor vehicles rose 10 percent; the
number of licensed drivers rose 12 percent; and total Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT) increased 40 percent, while surface road miles increased by only 1.1
percent. As a result, drivers have become more aggressive. Tailgating, speeding, and cutting off other drivers are examples of common
aggressive driving behaviors.
The morning and evening rush hours are peak times for aggressive driving
behaviors, often resulting in crashes. From 6 AM
to
9 AM
and from
3 PM
to 7 PM, 43.3 percent of all crashes occur. According to Department of
Transportation (DOT) statistics, following too closely accounts for 33.2 percent of crashes,
failing to grant the right of way accounts for 18.89 percent, and driving
too fast for conditions accounts for 10.73 percent of the crashes on
Connecticut roadways. These statistics were unacceptable.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Connecticut
Police Aggressive Driving Team’s goal is to establish and
enforce a zero tolerance policy for irresponsible driving in an effort to
make road travel safe in Connecticut
.
The primary objectives of this effort are to:
-
Use increased
enforcement actions and awareness of such actions to deter drivers
from operating a vehicle irresponsibly; and
-
Decrease the incidence of problems such
as speeding, aggressive driving behavior, and failure to use safety
belts.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
To address aggressive driving, the Connecticut
Police Aggressive Driving Team implemented the following
strategies and related activities:
-
Organized
aggressive driving countermeasure teams in every state police
district.
-
Used nontraditional police vehicles to enable officers
to concentrate on areas where it is difficult to conduct enforcement activities
while driving standard police vehicles. Each team includes three non-traditional
cars and other unmarked Crown Victoria police vehicles.
-
Used unmarked vehicles such as Cameros, Intrepids and
Impalas, allowing uniformed enforcement teams to observe traffic without drawing
attention to themselves and issue summonses when necessary.
-
Established an added police presence during peak traffic
hours with the greatest aggressive driving incidence.
-
Increased officers' work hours when specializing in
aggressive driver enforcement.
-
Made presentations to media about the program and
allowed them to film the new vehicles used in the enforcement effort.
-
Conducted several ride along programs that enabled media
to ride with officers and witness examples of aggressive driving that officers
see every day.
-
Displayed the Cameros used in the enforcement effort at
various enforcement and media events.
RESULTS
The
Connecticut
Police Aggressive Driving Team’s
success is reflected in the following results achieved during the
project’s first four months:
-
Issued
6,532 summonses, 4,823 citations for speeding, 623 citations for
following too closely, 212 citations for unsafe lane change, and 164
summonses for reckless driving (speeds over 85 mph)
-
Allowed troopers who specialize in aggressive driving
enforcement to work beyond normal shifts
-
Prompted the agency to purchase non-traditional vehicles for
each troop
-
Provided the department with another weapon to successfully
combat aggressive driving
-
Received positive media attention, particularly the use of
Cameros
Aggressive
driving enforcement activity is ongoing. Connecticut State Police
continue to respond to reports of aggressive driving by dispatching
non-traditional units.
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