August 10, 2010 – The Colorado State Patrol (“CSP”) has announced a new program called TACT – “Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks” which they hope will reduce the number of accidents caused by aggressive driving of passenger vehicles around commercial trucks.  Last year crashes involving big rigs and passenger vehicles killed 31 people and injured 161 others.  Half of these accidents were caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle, and sadly over 70% of the fatalities represented occupants in those same vehicles.

The TACT program targets passenger vehicles that drive aggressively around commercial vehicles in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities involving commercial trucks.  CSP has designated three specific periods of enforcement for the TACT program:  July 19-23, August 23-27 and September 20-24.

CSP reports that the top three driving behaviors accounting for over half of all commercial vehicle-involved crashes are speeding, following too closely and unsafe lane changes.  The TACT program was developed primarily to educate all drivers on the importance of safer driving around big rigs, including allowing more space when merging and changing lanes, following behind commercial trucks, and passing other motorists.

You can avoid accidents by keeping a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, stay visible when approaching commercial trucks, and don’t speed.  Also be mindful and avoid cutting in front of commercial trucks as this action reduces the truck’s distance required for braking and limits the driver’s ability to prevent an accident.  Of course, the most important thing of all – always wear your seat belt!