Extra patrols target aggressive driving
(Photo By Oregon Emergency Services)
BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting extra patrols from Feb. 1 until Feb. 15 to focus on aggressive drivers in the county.
A partnership between the Sheriff’s office and the Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Safety, will focus on aggressive drivers; the goal is the address potential traffic problems caused by aggressive driving.
The partnership will allow a Deputy to work overtime to focus on problem traffic calls that dispatch often receives; overtime will not pull any other officers from their traditional patrol duties.
According to Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer, “It is not our goal to write a lot of citations, but hope that the drivers will be driving appropriately, so that we do not have to issue citations, with the ultimate goal of keeping our community safe on the roadways.”
The dangers created by aggressive drivers are amplified during wintertime with risky road conditions.
“When our roads can change from wet to icy conditions so quickly it is important to pay attention to road conditions and your driving,” Kramer said.
According to the ITD, aggressive driving is attributed to half of the crashes in Idaho, 4-out-of-5 fatal aggressive crashes that involved a vehicle in rural areas and teenage drivers are four times more likely to be engaged in an aggressive driving crash.
“You are an aggressive driver if you drive in a pushy, bold, or selfish manner, which puts yourself and others at risk.”
If confronted by an aggressive driver, you should get out of the way safely, buckle up, avoid eye contact and do not challenge him or her.
“Aggressive driving can not only cause you to the wreck but may cause an accident with someone who is obeying the traffic laws.”
According to the ITD, Citizens have the right to report an aggressive-driving or road rage incident to law enforcement if it’s witnessed in the absence of an officer.
“Please help us by not driving aggressively, always wear your seat belt, and of course, no texting while driving,” Kramer said.