The Lewiston Police Department is participating in a statewide effort to calm aggressive driving in Idaho.
Lewiston, Idaho – The Lewiston Police Department and law enforcement partners across Idaho are working together to educate drivers and stop aggressive driving. March 19th through March 30th, our officers will dedicate enhanced patrols watching for dangerous, aggressive drivers.
According to preliminary data from the Office of Highway Safety, in 2023 aggressive driving contributed to nearly 14,000 crashes in Idaho and 103 people were killed. Last year, 39% of all fatal crashes involved some form of aggressive driving behavior.
Examples of aggressive driving include:
● Speeding
● Tailgating
● Driving too fast for conditions
● Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down
● Failing to stop for red lights or stop signs
● Failure to yield
● Weaving in and out of traffic
● Changing lanes without signaling
● Blocking cars that are attempting to change lanes
● Passing a vehicle on the wrong side of the road or on the shoulder
● Screaming, honking or flashing lights
● Making hand gestures or facial expressions at other drivers
The Lewiston Police Department urges drivers to stay calm on the road and have patience for other drivers so we can keep our communities safe together. The choices you make while behind the wheel can make the difference in whether you get home safely or not.
It is also very important for parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of aggressive driving. The Idaho Office of Highway Safety found in 2022, drivers ages 19 and younger were four times as likely to be involved in aggressive driving crashes as all other drivers, and drivers under the age of 25 represented more than one-third (35%) of the drivers involved in aggressive driving crashes that year.
Funding for extra patrols and overtime work focused on aggressive driving enforcement is provided by a grant through the Idaho Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Lewiston Police Department also wants to remind drivers to make sure you buckle up and have your children in approved child safety seats.
More aggressive driving prevention materials are available online at shift-idaho.org/aggressive-driving/.:
