US Launches Nationwide Campaign to Curb Aggressive Driving

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, August 23, 2003

US Launches Nationwide Campaign to Curb Aggressive Driving

Police in the United States have begun a nationwide campaign to crack down on aggressive drivers, in a bid to curb rising traffic accidents.

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Police in the United States have begun a nationwide campaign to crack down on aggressive drivers, in a bid to curb rising traffic accidents.

Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationshowed that the number of people killed in traffic accidents stoodat 42,815 in 2002, the highest since 1990.

Aggressive driving, drunken driving and racing are among the factors that have contributed to the increase, according to the agency.

To curb aggressive driving, state authorities have passed tougher laws, increasing fines and threatening jail time, and are urging more community involvement, such as tips from other drivers.

Most states in the country describe aggressive driving as excessive speeding combined with other infractions, such as running red lights or reckless weaving.

In Arizona, which passed the first such law in 1998, a driver who simultaneously speeds and commits at least two reckless driving offenses faces a 250 US dollars' fine and 30-day license suspension, while in Delaware, aggressive drivers can be fined up to 300 dollars and could face up to 30 days in jail.

In the southeastern state of Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol organized a street racing sting this month near Miami, and more drag racing stings can be expected. "I guess you can say we were fed up," said Lt. Julio Pajon of the patrol.

In the northwestern state of Washington, a task force of more than 20 troopers in unmarked cars have been dispatched to target aggressive drivers this year. And in New Jersey, motorists were asked to report reckless drivers through a toll-free hotline.

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