Truckers Beware

Aggressive truckers beware!: Operation "Safe Ride" sweeps SWFL
By WINK News
Story Created: Oct 24, 2007 at 5:17 PM EDT
Story Updated: Oct 24, 2007 at 6:13 PM EDT
Southwest Fla. - If you drive down I-75 in Southwest Florida, chances are you've experienced commercial trucks speeding, or driving aggressively. Relief may be in site. Right now, troopers all over Southwest Florida are looking for those types of truck drivers. The Highway Patrol calls it Operation Safe Ride.Dump trucks and big rigs are involved in 8% of all crashes, but 13% of all fatalities.George Smyrnios, and every other available trooper, is patrolling highways through Thursday, trying to stop aggressive truck drivers. He tells WINK News, it is not hard to spot dangerous truck drivers. "They drive very aggressively, in and out of traffic. They're heavy on the brakes, they pass on the shoulder. They put everybody at risk," said Smyrnios.Smyrnios also said that aggressive driving is not a legal term that will warrant a ticket."Evidence of aggressive driving, such as following too closely will allow a trooper to pull you over," Smyrnios added.Citations for that kind of driving cost around $100, but tickets can drive up other costs for those who have a Commercial Driver's License, or CDL."It would not only affect their insurance, but the ability to get insurance and some can even lose their Class-A CDL forever," said Smyrnios.In some parts of the state, the Florida Highway Patrol is using planes to spot aggressive driving.The saturation enforcement goes through Thursday evening.