Aggressive Driving: Appendix 5

Profiles of State and Local Agency Implementation Efforts: Strategy 4.1 A2 (Lee County, Florida)

Emphasis Area
4.1-Reducing Accidents Involving Aggressive Driving

Objective
4.1 A-Deter Aggressive Driving in Specific Populations, Including those with a History of Such Behavior, and at Specific Locations

Strategy
4.1 A2-Conduct Educational and Public Information Campaigns

Agency and Jurisdiction
Lee County, Florida Sheriff's Department

Problem(s) Identified
Lee County, Florida, has had one of the highest fatal automobile-accident rates in Florida. Many of the crashes appeared to have been caused by aggressive driving. As a result the Lee County Sheriff's Department developed an aggressive driving program to help reduce the number of fatal crashes. They also planned to continue an effective relationship with the broadcast media.

Goals and Objectives Established
Reduce the incidence of aggressive driving and crashes resulting from such driving.

Description of Strategy Implemented
The Sheriff's Department uses unmarked, nontraditional vehicles to patrol, detect, and cite motorists for aggressive behavior. They also select sites with a high number of crashes and provide intensive enforcement through the use of multijurisdictional teams. The Department has been most effective in obtaining significant air time with the broadcast media. The Traffic Division works at innovative activities that will attracts the interest of the broadcast media. This has been helped by a good working relationship with the media, which has been developed by supervising sergeant.

Summary of Implementation Effort (Lessons Learned)
The Traffic Division either has several deputies on patrol with unmarked, nontraditional vehicles or works in groups. Usually, two or three agencies work together at locations where a high number of crashes have occurred. They focus upon speed and red-light running, but will stop motorists for other violations as they are seen. The objective is to reduce the identified causes of crashes.

Because of the good working relationship established with the media, the Traffic Division obtains frequent news coverage of their work. One of the tasks taken by the supervising sergeant is to develop different approaches which encourage the media to be present. In other words, the sergeant makes the enforcement a "newsworthy" event. They appear to have been very successful with this effort.

The Department has received highway safety funds to help offset the costs of equipping the aggressive enforcement team. This includes the costs of the nontraditional vehicles, the video cameras, and the laser speed-detection devices.

Summary of the Results
This program has been operating since the beginning of 2002. No evaluation has yet been performed.

Contact Person and Information
Lt. Dennis Brown, Lee County, Florida, Sheriff's Department, http://www.sheriffleefl.org/Organization/LawEnforce.htm. Also, lisa.helms@dot.state.fl.us.