State looking to minimize aggressive driving

COEUR d'ALENE — The Idaho Office of Highway Safety is teaming up with law enforcement agencies across the state to campaign against aggressive driving from March 19-30.

Drivers can expect to see more officers on the road targeting aggressive driving behavior, a press release said.

According to highway safety statistics, nearly 14,000 crashes happened in 2023 due to aggressive behavior. Of those crashes, 103 were reported as fatal.

Highway safety officials say the office tracked aggressive behaviors including speeding, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely and failing to yield or stop at signals or signs.

“Aggressive driving is a choice, which means it’s in our power to change,” Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton said in a press release. “Choosing to drive engaged and safely may save your life or someone else’s life.”

Younger people are more prone to be involved in aggressive driving crashes, and in 2022 statistics showed that drivers aged 19 and younger were four times more likely to be involved in crashes caused by aggressive behavior.

Drivers under 25 represented over 35% of aggressive driving crashes that year.