CICERO -- Several police units will be cracking down on aggressive driving in Onondaga County this summer.
New York State Police, Onondaga County Sheriff's Deputies, and police officers in North Syracuse and Cicero will be focusing on a five mile stretch of Route 11.
According to the State Department of Transportation, there have been more than 400 crashes on the portion of Route 11 between Route 31 and South Bay Road in the past two years. 85% of those crashes have been linked to aggressive driving, according to the DOT.
"We ask that motorists resist giving in to road rage, use their turn signals, and stay in the right lane except to pass," said DOT Regional Director Carl Ford. "Don't use a hand-held cell phone while you drive, and if someone cuts you off, just let them go. If someone behind you is tailgating, pull over and let them pass. Somewhere down the road, the police will catch up with them."
The DOT, state and local 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. 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 campaign will run through Labor Day weekend.
