Law enforcement officers crack down on aggressive drivers: ‘Our roads are not racetracks’
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Florida Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies are working to cut down on aggressive driving.
Thursday, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol watched closely as racers burned rubber at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
"This is a racetrack. This is where people are allowed to drive fast," said Lt. Greg Bueno with FHP.
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But off the track at Bradenton Motorsports Park, he said the agency has seen a rise in aggressive driving, speeding and a lack of patience on the roadways.
"Our roads are not racetracks. That’s why we are here today. We are trying to change behaviors," said Lt. Bueno.
Within the last week, troopers have worked at least two deadly crashes in Sarasota County. Both involved single vehicles speeding more than 100 miles an hour.
"You will not find a legal speed higher than 70. Therefore, if you’re traveling 120 130 miles per hour, you’re doing something egregious, it’s reckless, it’s dangerous and someone is going to get hurt," said Lt. Bueno.
In 2022 the Florida Department of Transportation said 847,397 drivers were cited for speed and careless driving. Of those drivers, 33, 749 came from Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Keith Robbins, the district safety administrator for FDOT’s District 1, said they found more than 50% of drivers in fatal or serious injury crashes are young male drivers.
They have since started a campaign to crack down on aggressive driving.
"It’s something we see every day," said Robbins. "The mission of our department is to make the roadways safer, provide a safe system for our residents, hence the reason why we have Target Zero as our objective to reduce the number of fatal and serious accidents to zero."
Carlos Morales said he was once a part of that statistic, but has since changed his driving habits.
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"Just analyzing things and seeing accidents, I thought that driving like a maniac and aggressive gets you nowhere," he said. "You can pass three cars or four cars and get to the stop light and the first car you pass is right behind you. You never got anywhere."
Now, he comes once a week to Bradenton Motorsports Park, and he watches and leaves his speed at the track.
"I drive, my family drives, you drive, your family. We are all out on the road because eventually it will catch up to them. One little accident could take somebody’s life," Morales said.
The campaign against aggressive driving with the Florida Department of Transportation will continue on Saturday, June 10, at the Auburndale Speedway.
It’ll come back to Bradenton Motorsports Park on June 17 and make a stop at the Sarasota Offshore Boat Races on June 30.
For tips on combating aggressive driving, click here.